International Center for Research on Women
Encyclopedia
Focus areas
ICRW research identifies women's contributions to their communities and the barriers – like HIV, violence, and lack of education – that prevent them from being economically stable and able to fully participate in society. It focuses on three paths of action to achieve this:- Designing concrete, evidence-based plans for program designers, donors and policymakers that empower women to control their lives and help shape the future of their communities
- Measuring changes in the lives of women and girls – as well as men and boys – to know how best to achieve gender equality
- Recommending policy priorities that give women opportunities to transform their lives
Some of its priorities include the economic empowerment of women, the prevention of HIV/AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
among women and girls, the elimination of violence against women, the creation of better life options for women and girls, combating child marriage
Child marriage
Child marriage and child betrothal customs occur in various times and places, whereby children are given in matrimony - before marriageable age as defined by the commentator and often before puberty. Today such customs are fairly widespread in parts of Africa, Asia, Oceania and South America: in...
, and increasing food security for vulnerable women.
ICRW is primarily a research institution whose strong quantitative and qualitative research contributes to the direct action of organizations and communities in which they work.
ICRW's tagline is, "ICRW turns insight into action."
Leadership
The board of directors of the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW) announced June 14, 2010 that it has appointed social scientist Sarah Degnan KambouSarah Degnan Kambou
Sarah Degnan Kambou is president of the International Center for Research on Women , a global research institute that focuses on making women integral to alleviating poverty worldwide.-Biography:...
president of the organization. Degnan Kambou served for two years as ICRW’s chief operating officer (COO) under former president Geeta Rao Gupta
Geeta Rao Gupta
Geeta Rao Gupta is a leader on gender, women’s issues, and HIV and AIDS. She is frequently consulted on issues related to AIDS prevention and women’s vulnerability to HIV and is an advocate for women’s economic and social empowerment to fight disease, poverty and hunger. Rao Gupta is former...
, and then as interim president and COO after Rao Gupta stepped down in April 2010.
Degnan Kambou joined ICRW in 2002. As COO, she led the organization’s research and programs, finance and human resources departments as well as ICRW’s Asia Regional Office in New Delhi, India. Before that, she was vice president of health and development, overseeing research in HIV and AIDS, reproductive health and nutrition as well as in gender, violence and women’s rights.
In 2010, Degnan Kambou was appointed by United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to represent ICRW on the U.S. National Commission for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
).
Degnan Kambou holds a doctorate in international health policy and a master’s in public health from Boston University. She earned her bachelor’s degree in French from the University of Connecticut.
Degnan Kambou is ICRW’s fourth president in its 35-year history.
Board of directors
ICRW has been directed by several renowned and well-recognized individuals within the field of international development as well as other key private sector and government individuals, including Nobel Laureate Amartya SenAmartya Sen
Amartya Sen, CH is an Indian economist who was awarded the 1998 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences for his contributions to welfare economics and social choice theory, and for his interest in the problems of society's poorest members...
, writer Ann Crittenden, and Brooke Shearer (deceased, May 19, 2010), spouse of Strobe Talbott
Strobe Talbott
Nelson Strobridge "Strobe" Talbott III is an American foreign policy analyst associated with Yale University and the Brookings Institution, a former journalist associated with Time magazine and diplomat who served as the Deputy Secretary of State from 1994 to 2001.-Early life:Born in Dayton, Ohio...
, director of the Brookings Institute.
The current board of directors is available on ICRW's Web site.
Annual events and lectures
ICRW annually hosts the Irene Tinker Lecture, a fall lecture series named in honor of one of ICRW's founders and supporters, Dr. Irene Tinker. The lecture series has included speakers such as Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland, and Nobel Laureate in Economics, Amartya SenAmartya Sen
Amartya Sen, CH is an Indian economist who was awarded the 1998 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences for his contributions to welfare economics and social choice theory, and for his interest in the problems of society's poorest members...
.
ICRW's annual Champions for Change Awards—held on the eve of International Women's Day—has become Washington DC’s signature event to celebrate the possibilities of a gender equitable world and to shine a light on the leaders and visionaries who are helping make it a reality.
To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the organization, ICRW hosted a 30th Anniversary Gala in 2006, held at the Kennedy Center on March 8, 2006. Honorees included Philip Knight of the Nike Foundation, Susan Berresford of the Ford Foundation
Ford Foundation
The Ford Foundation is a private foundation incorporated in Michigan and based in New York City created to fund programs that were chartered in 1936 by Edsel Ford and Henry Ford....
and two international non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Actress Gina Davis served as Mistress of Ceremonies.
According to ICRW's website the organization will celebrate its 35th anniversary in 2011 with Passports to Progress, a year-long lecture series to advance global dialogue on how to empower the world's women. Speakers include NBC News Chief Foreign Affairs Correspondent Andrea Mitchell
Andrea Mitchell
Andrea Mitchell is an American television journalist, anchor, reporter, and commentator for NBC News based in Washington, D.C.. She is the NBC News Chief Foreign Affairs Correspondent, and has recently reported on the 2008 Race for the White House for NBC News broadcasts, including NBC Nightly...
, Dr. Rajiv Shah
Rajiv Shah
Rajiv “Raj” Shah is the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development . He was confirmed by the Senate on December 24, 2009, replacing acting chief Alonzo Fulgham, making him the highest-ranking Indian American in any presidential administration...
, Administrator, U.S. Agency for International Development, Cherie Blair
Cherie Blair
Cherie Blair , known professionally as Cherie Booth QC, is a British barrister working in the legal system of England and Wales. She is married to the former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Tony Blair; the couple have three sons and one daughter...
of the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women, Landesa's President and CEO Tim Hanstad, and Gap Inc.’s Bobbi Silten