Introduction
The Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation is a Sweden-based international women’s rights organization dedicated to promoting gender equality, peace, and justice in conflict-affected and post-conflict regions. Founded in 1993, the foundation works alongside more than 100 local women’s rights organizations across over 20 countries to strengthen women’s leadership, prevent gender-based violence, and support feminist peacebuilding. Through grants, advocacy, research, and long-term partnerships, Kvinna till Kvinna empowers women and girls to influence decisions that shape their communities and societies.
History and Background
The Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation was established in Sweden in 1993 following reports of widespread sexual violence during the wars in the former Yugoslavia. Swedish women’s and peace movements launched a national fundraising campaign to support local women’s organizations working with survivors of war and conflict. The overwhelming public response enabled the newly formed foundation to begin supporting grassroots organizations in the Balkans.
Over the past three decades, the foundation has expanded its operations beyond Europe to conflict-affected regions in the Middle East and North Africa, sub-Saharan Africa, and the South Caucasus. Today, Kvinna till Kvinna is recognized as one of the world’s leading feminist organizations working in conflict settings, partnering with more than 100 local organizations in over 20 countries. Since its establishment, it has provided more than €100 million in support to women’s rights organizations worldwide.
Mission and Purpose
The Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation envisions a world of peace and justice where women enjoy equal rights, opportunities, and influence.
Its primary objectives include:
- Supporting local women’s rights organizations in conflict-affected regions.
- Promoting women’s participation in peacebuilding and conflict resolution.
- Preventing and responding to gender-based violence.
- Advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights.
- Promoting women’s political and economic participation.
- Strengthening feminist movements and civil society.
- Conducting advocacy and research on women, peace, and security.
- Influencing national, regional, and international policy on gender equality.
The organization believes that sustainable peace can only be achieved when women actively participate in decision-making and leadership processes.
Governance and Structure
Kvinna till Kvinna operates as an independent nonprofit foundation headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden.
Its governance structure includes:
- A Board of Directors responsible for strategic leadership.
- A Secretary-General who oversees the organization’s daily operations.
- Regional and country offices across Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, sub-Saharan Africa, and the South Caucasus.
- Partnerships with more than 100 local women’s rights organizations.
- Dedicated teams specializing in advocacy, programme implementation, research, fundraising, communications, and finance.
The foundation follows principles of transparency, accountability, local ownership, and long-term partnership while ensuring that local organizations lead the design and implementation of community-based initiatives.
Funding and Grants
Grantmaking is central to Kvinna till Kvinna’s work. Rather than implementing projects independently, the foundation provides financial and technical support to local women’s rights organizations working in fragile and conflict-affected environments.
Its funding supports:
- Women’s rights organizations.
- Gender equality initiatives.
- Peacebuilding projects.
- Human rights advocacy.
- Prevention of gender-based violence.
- Women’s political participation.
- Economic empowerment programmes.
- Emergency response during humanitarian crises.
The foundation receives financial support from a diverse range of institutional donors, foundations, governments, international agencies, companies, and individual supporters.
Major funding partners include:
- Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida).
- European Union.
- Austrian Development Agency.
- Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (United Kingdom).
- Gates Foundation.
- Mastercard Foundation.
- Irish Aid.
- Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- Swedish Postcode Lottery.
- UN Peacebuilding Fund.
- Fondation CHANEL.
- International Development Research Centre.
The organization also operates emergency funding mechanisms that provide rapid assistance to women’s rights organizations responding to crises, including conflicts and humanitarian emergencies.
Major Programs and Initiatives
Kvinna till Kvinna implements a wide range of programmes aimed at strengthening women’s rights and feminist leadership.
Major initiatives include:
- Feminist Peace
- Supporting women’s participation in peace negotiations.
- Promoting women’s leadership in conflict prevention and peacebuilding.
- Gender-Based Violence Prevention
- Supporting survivors of violence.
- Strengthening protection services.
- Advocating for legal reforms.
- Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights
- Promoting bodily autonomy.
- Supporting access to healthcare and reproductive rights.
- Political and Economic Rights
- Increasing women’s participation in political decision-making.
- Supporting women’s economic empowerment and leadership.
- Strengthening Women’s Movements
- Providing long-term funding to grassroots organizations.
- Building organizational capacity.
- Supporting feminist networks and alliances.
- Research and Policy Advocacy
- Publishing reports on women, peace, security, and civic space.
- Influencing international policy and donor priorities.
- Emergency Response
- Providing rapid funding to partner organizations during armed conflicts and humanitarian crises.
- Supporting displaced women, refugees, and survivors of violence.
Impact and Examples of Work Funded
For more than 30 years, the Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation has contributed significantly to advancing women’s rights in some of the world’s most challenging environments.
Examples of its impact include:
- Supporting more than 100 women’s rights organizations across over 20 countries.
- Disbursing more than €100 million in financial support since 1993.
- Strengthening local organizations working on gender equality, justice, and peacebuilding.
- Supporting women survivors of conflict-related sexual violence.
- Promoting women’s participation in local and national elections.
- Influencing international policies on women, peace, and security.
- Funding emergency assistance for organizations responding to conflicts in countries such as Ukraine and Lebanon.
- Supporting advocacy efforts that have contributed to legal and policy reforms promoting women’s rights.
The foundation has also published influential research on shrinking civic space, gender-based violence, feminist peacebuilding, and women’s participation in peace processes, helping shape global discussions on gender equality and conflict resolution.
Conclusion
The Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation has become one of the world’s leading organizations dedicated to advancing women’s rights in conflict-affected regions. Through strategic grantmaking, long-term partnerships, advocacy, and research, it empowers local women’s rights organizations to build peaceful, inclusive, and equitable societies. By investing in feminist leadership, gender equality, and sustainable peace, the foundation continues to make a lasting impact on communities across Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and beyond while helping ensure that women and girls have a stronger voice in shaping their futures.
For more information, visit here.
