Since the end of World War II, conventional wars have waned and given way to an increase in civil wars. This change has brought new and difficult challenges to those living in the affected regions. Around the world, non-combatants are finding themselves in the direct line of fire, suffering greatly and becoming the anonymous and undercounted casualties of violent conflicts [2].

Women for Women International (WWI) was founded in 1993 by Zainab Salbi and her husband Amjad Atallah. WWI believes that women often bear the brunt of the war suffering; such as rape, displacement, and gender inequality. Their mission is to “provide women survivors of war, civil strife and other conflicts with the tools and resources to move from crisis and poverty to stability and self-sufficiency, thereby promoting viable civil societies [3].” WWI strives to alleviate these women’s burdens through a series of comprehensive programs. Currently, WWI operates in nine countries: Rwanda, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Nigeria, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Iraq, Kosovo, and Sudan.

Women for Women International implements a series of four programs which enables women to become productive members of civil society: the Sponsorship Program, the Rights Awareness and Leadership Education Program, the Job Skills Program, and the Comprehensive Business Services Program.

The first program is the Sponsorship Program. A majority of women in post-conflict regions lack basic necessities such as food, water, and shelter; basic needs that must be addressed before these women can become active members of their civil societies. Consequently, WWI establishes one-to-one partnerships in which individuals provide $27 per month in order to provide daily stability for these women. This step lays the foundation for the other WWI programs. The second program is the Rights Awareness and Leadership Education Program. WWI recognizes and understands the value in enhancing women’s knowledge of the rights they hold in their countries. As a result, the organization provides educational workshops and leads discussions on political, economic, and social rights. WWI believes that furthering these women’s awareness about the rights that they are entitled to will decrease their vulnerability to oppressive governments.

WWI’s third program is Job Skills Training. The organization works to strengthen women’s existing skills and to introduce new skills in traditional and non-traditional fields so that women can access future employment opportunities [4]. Job Skills Training includes, but is not limited to, silverssmithing, basket weaving, bee keeping, and food processing. According to Isobel Coheman, Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, a Washington-based think-tank, “giving women more control over resources also profits the community at large because women tend to invest more in their families than do men [5].” This program is essential to putting these war-affected women on the right path towards becoming productive members of society.

Lastly, the Business Development Support Program is designed to provide assistance and resources such as capital and micro-credit services in order to get these women onto the first rung of the economic ladder. According to London-based magazine The Economist, there is significant evidence that giving women more financial power fosters economic development [6].

Every phase of these programs works towards the eventual goal of enhancing the women’s capacity to participate in their government. By doing this, it decreases the likelihood that these women will slide back into vulnerable positions within their societies. Even though WWI does implement subsistence relief efforts, it does it with the knowledge that it is not a means to an end. WWI recognizes that only through a combination of financial aid, education, and resources can these women participate in and strengthen civil society.

The IIJD strongly supports the work of Women for Women International. By participating in these programs the women become leaders within their communities and teach other women, thus creating a system of sustainability within the affected communities. The IIJD believes that it is essential to allow women the opportunity to understand their rights and their role within their country. The WWI’s Job Skills and Business Development Programs allow the women to create a sustainable income and help re-build their national economy. By providing socially excluded women a sustainable avenue for development, WWI facilitates their transition into becoming engaged participants in their governments.