NEW YORK, 22 September 2026. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) today announced a new Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) Commitment to Action to expand its commitment to support local women-led organizations working on crisis response and recovery. 

The Frontline Women’s Resilience Platform, announced as a CGI Commitment to Action, will connect women-led organizations with the resources, partnerships and support they need to expand their work. These organizations are often among the first to respond when crisis hits and remain long after international attention moves on, helping sustain essential services, restore livelihoods, and build more resilient communities.

Over three years, the commitment aims to support approximately 10 anchor civil society partnerships across nine countries, build an initial financing platform of approximately US$8.31 million and directly reach at least 250,000 women and community members by the end of 2028. 

Local women-led organizations are often among the first to respond to crises and remain active long after international attention moves elsewhere. They provide essential services, support livelihoods, strengthen social cohesion, and help communities prepare for future shocks. Yet many face persistent barriers to crisis and recovery financing and decision-making. 

UNDP will work with local organizations and partners to expand access to financing, technical assistance, and other support. The commitment aligns with UNDP’s Gender Equality Strategy and will build on existing UNDP programmes and partnerships, using established systems to manage funds and safeguard resources. 

Support will span women’s leadership in crisis recovery, rights and justice, livelihoods and economic recovery, peacebuilding and social cohesion, and climate resilience and disaster preparedness. 

The commitment will offer different entry points for philanthropic, corporate, bilateral, and technical partners. Support may include financing, co-funding for country or thematic windows, technical assistance, digital tools, communications and storytelling, peer exchange, in-kind expertise and support to expand existing civil society-led work. 

 “CGI Commitments to Action bring organizations and partners together around practical and measurable solutions to pressing global challenges," said Greg Milne, CEO of CGI. "This commitment creates an opportunity to connect the leadership and experience of women-led organizations on the frontlines of crisis with the financing, partnerships and support they need to strengthen their impact and help communities recover and build resilience.”

Women-led organizations on the frontlines 

“We support women-led organizations respond to crisis and rebuild communities. They bring trusted local knowledge, sustain essential services and help shape more inclusive and resilient recovery,” said Shoko Noda, UN Assistant Secretary-General and Director of UNDP’s Crisis Bureau. “Investing in their economic empowerment is essential to building stronger, more resilient communities.”

“The gap is not a lack of women’s leadership; it is a lack of sustained investment and the enabling conditions for that leadership to thrive,” said Raquel Lagunas, UNDP Global Director of Gender Equality. “Women-led organizations need more than a seat at the table. They are already driving the solutions in their communities, but they need financing, institutional support and a meaningful role in shaping the policies, budgets and services that drive crisis response and recovery.” 

“During crisis, women come to local organizations because they know us and trust us. We understand which services are missing, who is being excluded and what communities need to recover,” said Salma Al-Kathiri, Head of the Yemen Women’s Union Branch. “Sustained support would allow us to respond to immediate needs while also strengthening women’s access to justice, livelihoods, leadership and resilience for the future.”