Today, we celebrate International Women's Day, a global moment to reflect on and renew our commitment to gender equality. This year’s theme, Give to Gain, reminds us of a powerful truth: when we invest in women and girls, everyone benefits. Giving, whether through knowledge, support, or advocacy, creates gains that ripple across families and communities.

Around the world, too many women and girls remain unable to fully participate in spaces such as education and employment. Women are less likely than men to participate in the labour market and are more often concentrated in informal or vulnerable employment (World Bank, 2026). Making investments in women and girls is important to creating pathways to sustainable livelihoods.

Through COL’s Empowering Women and Girls project (EWG), we turn the spirit of Give to Gain into action by investing in skills training, education, employment pathways, and entrepreneurship. To date, EWG has provided vocational training to more than 69,000 women and girls, equipping them with practical skills and the confidence to shape their own futures. These investments generate immediate and lasting benefits for participants and their communities.

In Bangladesh, Rima attended a free three-month sewing training delivered by our community partner, the Centre for Mass Education and Science. Growing up in poverty, Rima left school after primary education and worked in households to support her family while dreaming of becoming self-reliant through sewing. During the training, she learned technical sewing skills, creative techniques such as tie-dye and block batik, and participated in sessions on women’s rights and social issues. After completing the program, Rima received a sewing machine, enabling her to begin working from home. She now earns approximately 8,000 taka per month and contributes to her family’s income. Her journey demonstrates how investing in skills and education can create change in the lives of women and girls.

Give to Gain also calls on us to recognize our  individual contributions as champions for women. That is why, as part of Empowering Women and Girls project, we focus on creating supportive community environments and local champions. We have engaged more than 14,000 men and boys and 4,725 community leaders in awareness sessions on gender equality, human rights and advocacy, and building local supporters for women and girls.

These efforts help shift attitudes and strengthen collective responsibility for advancing women’s rights. As one participant in Pakistan, Mushtaq, shared, “The training I received from [EWG and] Bedari opened my eyes to the importance of women's education and the harmful effects of GBV. It equipped me with the skills to advocate for these issues in my community, and I am keen to learn more and continue this work.”

Investing in local champions builds advocates who can continue to support women and girls in their community.

As we honour International Women’s Day, it is important to reflect on the investments each of us can make. When we give women and girls access to training, resources, and support, they gain the ability to earn and lead. When communities invest in equality, they gain stronger economies and more inclusive societies. This International Women’s Day, let us truly embrace the spirit of Give to Gain. When women and girls gain opportunity, we all gain a better future.