The Global Women's Leadership Initiative will provide women around the world with access to credit union resources that will enable them to lead in the sustainable development of their communities.

Need. In the fight against global poverty, women are on the front lines and credit unions become natural mechanisms to develop women's leadership capacity. Yet globally, women continue to hold a minority of credit union leadership positions, with few resources available for advice, networking or mentorship. At the community level, women are often left behind by the financial sector, and credit unions can help marginalized women become community leaders by empowering them through access to basic savings and credit services.

Credit Union Resources. The Global Women's Leadership Initiative will provide women around the world with access to resources that will enable them to lead in the sustainable development of their communities. Specifically, the initiative will help women to build their leadership capacity by:

• raising awareness of issues faced by women in leadership positions and providing resource materials online,
• providing a forum where women credit union leaders can share perspectives on critical business issues, and
• raising funds so women credit union executives in developing countries with the greatest leadership potential can attend the forum and credit unions in developing countries can expand their microfinance programs to bring greater access to women.

Educational Awareness Campaign

The Canadian Co-operative Association (CCA) will develop a global information campaign designed to raise awareness about the daily challenges women in developing countries face in obtaining leadership positions and gaining access to basic financial services. Resources such as leadership case studies, gender audit exercises, product research and operational changes to incorporate gender equality will be posted on CCA's website. Watch for more details to come soon!

Global Women's Leadership Forum

WOCCU is developing an invitation-only peer learning session for 1.) women credit union CEOs and women on the executive team of their credit unions, 2.) retired women CEOs and executives, 3.) women directors of credit unions and 4.) CEOs and executives of credit union partner organizations in conjunction with the World Credit Union Conference (WCUC), to be piloted in Barcelona in 2009.

The forum will commence on July 26, 2009 with a networking reception for participants in the forum and donors to the initiative on the opening day of the WCUC. The full-day forum will take place on July 30, 2009, the day following the close of the WCUC. It will be professionally facilitated with a focus on confidential peer-to-peer exchange. The program will include candid table discussions on business topics chosen by the groups (i.e. succession planning, revenue diversification, etc.).

In addition to an unparalleled professional growth experience, participants will gain long-lasting access to an important network of peers from around the world. Registration for the forum will be limited to major donors (US$1,500 and above) from developed countries and women with demonstrated leadership capacity in developing countries.

To ensure diverse participation and extend the opportunity to women CEOs inhibited by financial hardship, scholarships will be awarded to women from credit unions in developing countries for forum registration plus actual travel costs up to US$1,800. Hotel cost will be at the attendee's expense. A limited number of scholarships will be available to cover registration for the 2009 WCUC.

To balance group sizes, WOCCU reserves the right to limit attendance based on capacity.

Women's Leadership Fund

WOCCU, CCA and other credit union foundations will organize fundraising drives to support the Global Women's Leadership Initiative. Funds raised will cover scholarships to the forum as described above and support international credit union development work which benefits women in areas of greatest need.

Who is being asked to support the campaign? The entire credit union movement is invited to get involved by using the educational Web site and donating to the Global Women's Leadership Fund. All donors will be invited to a pre-conference launch reception at the 2009 WCUC in Barcelona.

Women's Leadership Network Donor Benefits: In addition to founding the Global Women's Leadership Forum and assisting women credit union members in need around the world, you'll be invited to join the Women's Leadership Network!

A donation is suggested for anyone with an interest in developing women leaders in the credit union movement and is required for women from developed countries to participate in the forum. Donor benefits include: 2009 WCUC name badge ribbon, Web site listing, forum signage, invitation to a private pre-forum reception, access to a quarterly e-news updates about women's leadership activities in credit unions around the world and invitation to future networking activities developed by the group. See table below for benefits by donation level.

All contributions are requested to be over and above current WOCCU Supporter gifts, but will apply cumulatively to recognition level.

Contact Valerie Breunig, vbreunig@woccu.org or (608) 395-2055, to get involved!