Co-Impact

🌍 What if systems worked for 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲? By bringing together funders and local changemakers, we’re strengthening health, education, and economic systems to be more just and inclusive — with women’s leadership and gender equality at the center. This is collaborative philanthropy at scale — and it’s already creating lasting change across the world. ▶️ Watch our new video to see how our partners across Asia, Africa and Latin America such as ARMMAN, Teaching at the Right Level Africa, Rythu Sadhikara Samstha, and GQUAL Campaign are making systems work for everyone.

"I believe in my work and am committed to my community, so I must go to my patients." Milliceent Anyango Miruga, a #CHW from Kenya. At this year’s Marmalade session on “Gender Equity: A Core Component of Health for All” on the sidelines of #SkollWF, hosted by our amazing program partners Last Mile Health in collaboration with Integrate Health, leaders came together to reflect on what it takes to change systems—and the answer is clear: #genderequity must be central to how we strengthen community health. From Liberia to Kenya, we’re seeing what happens when that shift is made: In Liberia, a national CHW program supported by Last Mile Health is now active in all 15 counties. Since professional CHWs—many of them women—were deployed, maternal and child health outcomes have improved. In Kenya, Lwala Community Alliance has partnered with the government to deploy 100,000 CHWs, reaching over 20 million people. Centring women in this workforce has expanded access, trust, and equity at the frontlines of care. This is #systemschange in action. To quote our Founder & CEO, Olivia Leland: “These stories are of hope. Now it's time we bring them out of this room and keep sharing.”

At this year’s Skoll Foundation's #SkollWF, our Founder and CEO Olivia Leland joined a panel of philanthropic leaders to explore how funders can better respond to today’s unique combination of complex crisis. Moderated by Naina Subberwal Batra (AVPN), the session featured John Palfrey (MacArthur Foundation), Binaifer Nowrojee (Open Society Foundations), and Kate Hampton (Children's Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF). It was an inspiring discussion on the role of #philanthropy in a shifting world, and in exploring how to fund more boldly, and more collaboratively, while centring local leadership and long-term trust. As Olivia put it, the message is clear and timely: real #systemschange happens when we stay in community, fund at scale, act with urgency, and trust those closest to the work. We were left inspired by the call to do more—and do better—together, while we continue to focus on working with partners across the globe to create more just and inclusive systems. We look forward to joining more of our program and funding partners throughout the week at the Skoll World Forum 💪🏽🙌🏾

We're #hiring! Are you a seasoned attorney with a passion for social impact? Come join the Co-Impact team! This position offers the unique chance to build and shape the legal function of the organization. You will play a pivotal role in ensuring compliance with U.S. and international laws, while supporting global grantmaking and strategic initiatives. Learn more about the role and apply by 9 April here: https://lnkd.in/dPasNzih

Amazing news from our program partners Ilifa Labantwana and SmartStart South Africa! A key part of their systems change strategy is increasing national budgets for Early Childhood Development. With the South African government's proposed 2025 National budget, the per-child subsidy will increase by 40%, and the number of subsidized children will nearly double. Securing government funding for #ECD is one of the most critical steps in building inclusive, national ECD systems. This is what it takes to drive change at scale! 👏🏾

In the video below, our program partners at International Budget Partnership explain how they work with women in Nigeria's markets to ensure they are not unduly taxed, while corporations get big tax waivers. We are always so inspired our partners and their work in helping ensure systems work for everyone! #IWD2025

Achieving gender equality requires urgent, systemic transformation to dismantle deep-rooted inequalities and empower women and girls globally. We are excited to share another inspiring Q&A with Mary Wandia Wanjiru, our Director for Africa, featured by Sunday Isuwa for the Leadership Media Group. As she put it best: "we cannot sustainably improve outcomes for women and girls unless we transform the systems that provide services.” Read the article below. #InternationalWomensDay #IWD2025

Gender equity in healthcare is not just about access—it’s about agency, dignity, and systems change. In India, our program partners ARMMAN are transforming healthcare for millions of women and children by integrating technology with frontline care. So far, ARMMAN has: 📱 Reached 55.8 million women and children through the Kilkari mobile outreach program 👩🏾⚕️ Trained 481,000 frontline health workers in 17 states to improve maternal and child health 📊 Helped strengthen health data quality across 18 states 💡 Secured government funding to scale these efforts nationwide Ensuring women’s leadership in healthcare is equally critical—ARMMAN has made strides toward gender balance within its leadership, core team, and board. It's essential to ensure that every woman has the information, resources, and support she needs to survive and thrive. Learn more about their work: https://lnkd.in/dzgbB6fa #InternationalWomensDay #WomensHistoryMonth #MaternalHealth #HealthcareForAll

For #InternationalWomensDay #IWD2025, our Director for Africa, Mary Wandia Wanjiru, spoke with Melody Chironda at AllAfrica Global Media about how our Gender Fund is resourcing women-led, locally rooted organizations across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. "Growing up, I witnessed firsthand the discrimination of girls who were denied education opportunities. Changing a biased and unjust system became my calling," said Mary Wandia during the interview. Through the Gender Fund and Co-Impact’s broader model, we are showing that large-scale, sustainable change in gender equality is possible when resources are deployed effectively. Here are three key priorities that can drive action: 1️⃣ Advancing women’s leadership and gender equality in health, education, and economic opportunity, as these are the foundations of human welfare and a thriving future. 2️⃣ Putting locally rooted partners in the driver’s seat, ensuring that those closest to the issue, especially women, lead the solutions. By investing in those closest to the challenges, we can drive real systems change 💪🏿 3️⃣ Collective action for change: tackling inequality is complex, and collaborative funding models are the best way to provide the long-term, flexible funding needed. Read the full article below 👇🏾 #IWD2025 #GenderEquality #InvestInWomen https://lnkd.in/d_bf2Ug5

"This is a really important time to make sure that some hard-fought progress does not continue to stall." – Olivia Leland, Founder & CEO, Co-Impact In February, our CEO Olivia Leland sat down with Jacqueline Joudo Larsen from Minderoo Foundation and Shivaune Field from Forbes Australia to discuss how bold, transformative philanthropy—like Minderoo Foundation’s investment in our Gender Fund—is breaking down barriers and changing systems to create a more just and equitable world for women, girls, and everyone. The article highlights how real change happens when philanthropy, leadership, and locally rooted efforts come together to drive lasting impact. By listening to those driving the change, we can support local changemakers to collaborate with organizations—such as governments, and the private sector—to address challenges at scale. Collaborative philanthropy—rooted in partnership and systems change—can create lasting progress for #GenderEquality. Read the full article below & share your thoughts: What are the current challenges, solutions, or insights that are inspiring you to take action?