Actions to date:

• Board of Directors launched an independent investigation
• CEO issued an apology and is taking a leave of absence during the investigation
• External diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) consultants conducted a training with our full staff, held focus groups, created discussion spaces, and reviewed our structures, policies, and practices
• Women Deliver established internal working groups on intersectionality and DEI
• Women Deliver held town hall meetings with Young Leaders and Alumni to answer questions and start a dialogue

Actions to come:

• Accelerate and prioritize our ongoing DEI work as a first step toward transformative change
• Develop clear metrics and accountability mechanisms for our recent public commitments
• Apply an intersectional approach to our five-year strategic plan, which is currently under development
• Improve human resources and employee experience
• Take additional actions based on the findings of the investigation and other consultations

We know that it isn’t enough to be against racism at Women Deliver – we must be proactivity anti-racist in our structures, policies, and practices. And so, we will act with humility to continually reevaluate our efforts to take the necessary steps to truly live our values, including sharing regular, transparent updates on this dedicated webpage.

This moment in history is an opportunity for all of us to evaluate our role in the systems of white supremacy and colonialism that have led to systemic racism and oppressive power structures. For organizations like ours, that work begins at home. Women Deliver is committed to becoming an anti-racist organization, and we take responsibility to listen, learn, and take action.