FHN Annual Report 2023
In 2023, the Feminist Humanitarian Network wove deeper connections among ourselves and into the wider fabric of humanitarian change. It was a year of weaving, of pulling our threads tighter, strengthening the bonds between us, and stitching new stories into the growing fabric of our feminist humanitarian movement. Across borders and time zones, we found each other. In meeting rooms, in shared meals, in strategy sessions, we remembered that our power lies in connection. We gathered, of meeting heart to heart, voice to voice, some of us for the first time in places like Bangkok, Kigali, Geneva, and New York. In each space, we held each other close and held power to account. We strategised, challenged, and imagined a humanitarian future rooted in justice and care. Together, we stretched the threads between us, old and new, strengthening our collective force. Our words rang louder, our presence became more visible, and our demands more urgent. As we reflected, one theme echoed clearly: connection is resistance. Connection is how we grow. And so, we chose “fabric” as our visual and symbolic guide. A tapestry of voices, memories, victories, and dreams.
The 2023 Annual Report offers a glimpse into what we’ve sewn together, moments of courage, collaboration, and clarity. A movement stitched with intention, fuelled by love, and always led by feminists. We welcomed new members, strengthened alliances, and continued to challenge the colonial, patriarchal and racist structures that shape humanitarian action.
An important development for the Network in 2023 was our move towards a feminist co-leadership model. As FHN Co-Lead, Holly Miller took parental leave, FHN members’ Mmonbeydo Nadine Joah (Organisation for Women and Children, Liberia) and Dr Anu Pillay (individual member) joined as interim co-leads, with Anu staying on as Co-Lead following Holly’s return. In both our practice and our politics, we embraced co-leadership as a way to share power, decisions, and care, rooted in our feminist values.
FHN’s Annual Report 2023 Key Highlights:
We contributed to the 2023 Global Humanitarian Assistance Report, advocating for multi-year, quality funding for WROs in crisis response.
At CSW67 in New York, four FHN members led a powerful parallel event, spotlighting feminist priorities in humanitarian action..
The FHN hosted two parallel events at Women Deliver 2023 in Kigali, alongside donor and media engagements.
We co-created the FHN Safe and Welcoming Space Pledge, a feminist code of conduct, with the Membership Committee.
We launched the FHN Feminist Workshop Series to deepen collective feminist practice and share learning.
In May, we held our first-ever in-person Steering Committee meeting in Bangkok, Thailand, building deeper connections and setting direction together.
We became an official signatory of the Grand Bargain, strengthening our advocacy for feminist humanitarian action.
We were appointed Co-Chair of the Grand Bargain’s Friends of Gender Group, represented by Naomi Tulay-Solanke.reau (WLB) in the Philippines.