International Center for Research on Women

The International Center for Research on Women (ICRW) is a nonprofit organization focused on advancing gender equity, inclusion, and shared prosperity through research, measurement, policy development, and collaboration with local practitioners. Established in 1976, it operates as an international research and knowledge institution rather than as a conventional consumer-facing brand. Its work examines the social, economic, political, health, and environmental conditions that shape the lives of women and girls, while also studying how gender norms and power relationships affect men, boys, families, communities, and institutions. ICRW's research agenda has addressed barriers that limit women's ability to participate fully in society and achieve economic security. These barriers include violence, HIV, inadequate access to education, discriminatory social norms, restricted reproductive choice, and unequal control over resources and decision-making. The organization has also studied child marriage, women's economic empowerment, gender-based violence, health, and the ways in which policy and development programs can produce more equitable outcomes. Its current work is organized around four broad issue areas: economic opportunity and security; health and reproductive rights; social norms and power dynamics; and climate action. The organization describes its approach as a bridge between evidence and action. It develops quantitative and qualitative research, evaluates changes in people's lives, translates findings into practical recommendations, and works with program designers, donors, policymakers, activists, and community organizations. Rather than treating research as an end in itself, ICRW seeks to produce usable evidence that can guide programs and public policy. It also emphasizes strengthening the capacity of local researchers, activists, and practitioners, with the aim of shifting power toward the communities most affected by gender inequality. ICRW's public knowledge platform has made available research reports, books, fact sheets, policy briefs, toolkits, and trainer guides. The organization has maintained offices or regional operations in Washington, D.C.; New Delhi, Ranchi, and Jamtara in India; Nairobi in Kenya; and Kampala in Uganda. Its regional structure supports work carried out with partners in different political, cultural, and economic settings rather than imposing a single global model. Leadership has included founding president Mayra Buvinic, who served from 1976 to 1997, Geeta Rao Gupta, who served from 1997 to 2010, Sarah Degnan Kambou, who served from 2010 to 2021, and Peggy Clark, who served from 2021 to 2023. Ann Warner became interim chief executive officer and president on October 2, 2023. ICRW has also been associated with international development scholars, policy specialists, advocates, and philanthropic and public-sector leaders through its board, leadership council, awards, and research partnerships. Its continuing role is that of an evidence-oriented institution seeking to influence development practice and policy on gender equality rather than a commercial product company.

The International Center for Research on Women was established in 1976 as an institution dedicated to bringing women's experiences and gender analysis into international development research and policy. Its founding period was associated with Mayra Buvinic, who served as the organization's founding president through 1997. From the beginning, ICRW's role was to generate evidence about the economic, social, and health conditions affecting women and to use that evidence to influence development programs and public decisions. Under successive presidents, the organization expanded its research and policy work across regions and issue areas. Geeta Rao Gupta led ICRW from 1997 to 2010, followed by Sarah Degnan Kambou from 2010 to 2021 and Peggy Clark from 2021 to 2023. Across these transitions, the organization retained a focus on connecting rigorous research with practical interventions. Its work has examined women's economic empowerment, gender-based violence, health and reproductive rights, HIV, education, child marriage, and the social norms that shape power within households and communities. ICRW's institutional method combines quantitative and qualitative research. It measures changes in the lives of women and girls, while also considering the experiences of men and boys and the wider systems in which gender relations operate. The organization develops recommendations for policymakers, donors, program designers, and civil-society organizations, and it works with local researchers and practitioners to make evidence more relevant to local conditions. This emphasis on collaboration is intended to avoid treating communities solely as subjects of research and instead to strengthen their role in defining problems and developing solutions. The organization developed an international operating footprint with offices and regional activity in the United States, India, Kenya, and Uganda. Its India presence has included New Delhi, Ranchi, and Jamtara, while its African operations have included Nairobi and Kampala. Through this network, ICRW has conducted and supported research in different development contexts and has worked with governments, advocacy coalitions, funders, and implementation partners. In addition to research projects, ICRW has built a substantial public knowledge program consisting of reports, books, fact sheets, policy briefs, toolkits, and trainer guides. It has also supported and recognized scholarship and leadership through the Mariam K. Chamberlain Dissertation Award, the Paula Kantor Award for Excellence in Field Research, and the Champions for Change Awards. These programs extend the institution's mission beyond its own studies by supporting emerging researchers and honoring people advancing gender equity. Ann Warner became interim chief executive officer and president effective October 2, 2023. Warner had previously held several positions at ICRW, led work on child marriage and women's and girls' empowerment, and later served as founding chief executive of WREN in South Carolina. In its current form, ICRW remains a nonprofit research and policy organization focused on economic opportunity and security, health and reproductive rights, social norms and power dynamics, and climate action. Its principal contribution is the production and application of evidence intended to improve gender-responsive development policy and practice.

• 2023

  Ann Warner appointed interim president and CEO

  [1]International Center for Research on Womenen.wikipedia.org

  Ann Warner took up the position of interim chief executive officer and president effective October 2, 2023.

• 2021

  Peggy Clark becomes president

  [1]International Center for Research on Womenen.wikipedia.org

  Peggy Clark became president, serving until 2023.

• 2010

  Sarah Degnan Kambou becomes president

  [1]International Center for Research on Womenen.wikipedia.org

  Sarah Degnan Kambou assumed the presidency and served through 2021.

• 1997

  Geeta Rao Gupta becomes president

  [1]International Center for Research on Womenen.wikipedia.org

  Geeta Rao Gupta succeeded founding president Mayra Buvinic and led the organization until 2010.

• 1976

  Organization founded

  [1]International Center for Research on Womenen.wikipedia.org

  The International Center for Research on Women was established as a nonprofit institution focused on research and policy related to women and international development. Mayra Buvinic became its founding president.

An international nonprofit research and policy institution that converts quantitative and qualitative evidence into practical strategies for gender equity, women's rights, and inclusive development.

• Research publications

  Research reports and books

  ICRW publishes research examining gender inequality and international development. Its work has addressed women's economic security, health, reproductive rights, violence, HIV, education, child marriage, social norms, and power relations. The publications are intended for researchers as well as policymakers, funders, advocates, and organizations implementing programs.

• Policy and evidence translation

  Policy briefs and fact sheets

  These shorter publications translate research findings into accessible evidence and policy recommendations. They help decision-makers and development practitioners understand the implications of research for gender-responsive programs, public policy, investment, and institutional practice.

• Implementation resources

  Toolkits and trainer guides

  ICRW makes practical resources available to organizations and practitioners seeking to apply gender research. Toolkits and trainer guides support education, program design, capacity-building, and implementation by converting evidence into methods that can be adapted to local settings.

• Research fellowship and award

  Mariam K. Chamberlain Dissertation Award

  Created with support from a matching grant from the Ford Foundation, this award supports first-generation doctoral students, including immigrant students, as they continue dissertation research under the supervision of a senior advisor. It honors Mariam K. Chamberlain's vision of strengthening academic and policy institutions focused on women's issues.

• Research award

  Paula Kantor Award for Excellence in Field Research

  This award commemorates researcher Paula Kantor and recognizes outstanding work in gender and women's empowerment. It is directed toward a young female researcher from a low- or middle-income country.

• Advocacy and leadership awards

  Champions for Change Awards

  The Champions for Change Awards recognize individuals who have advanced gender equity and improved the rights and well-being of women and girls. The program provides a public platform for highlighting leadership and action in support of a more equitable world.

1. 1International Center for Research on Womenen.wikipedia.org
2. 2International Center for Research on Women official websiteicrw.org