Our VMGO and Roles

AWCF's Vision, Mission, Goals, Objectives (VMGO) and Roles

Vision
A strong and sustainable AWCF dedicated to the development of its member-organizations regardless of sex, race, and economic status for women and men, who work together within the co-op movement for a just, humane, gender-sensitive and progressive society for a better family life and to achieve freedom to decide for their individual and collective self.


Mission
1. To advocate and enable co-operative organizations to pursue the gender agenda on gender equity, gender equality, and empowerment of women
2. To facilitate the development and installation of mechanisms to enable women to participate actively and effectively in the co-operative movement as members and leaders, and to benefit from it equitably
3. To enable women and men to work together in the co-operative movement as partners who have access to equal opportunity in different contexts


Goals
1. To set up and implement a human resource development (HRD) program responsive to the needs of women and men leaders, members, and staff of AWCF
2. To provide support or technical assistance to co-operatives or other organizations in developing their gender program, and to evaluate the gender responsiveness of other programs
3. To undertake research, documentation, and other activities that promote the welfare of women
4. To assist members in the development of strategies, plans, and activities to integrate the gender perspective in their structures, policies, programs, and services
5. To access funds from both members and other institutions to support the implementation of a gender program at local and regional levels


Objectives
1. To strengthen the capacities of members and non-members in promoting, integrating, and practicing gender equality and gender equity, and the empowerment of women in their co-op structure
2. To build the capacities and skills of women for increased participation in the leadership and decision-making in co-ops and other community-based savings and credit organizations
3. To advocate for co-ops to be aware of the particular needs of women-entrepreneurs, and for co-ops to use their resources to benefit women-entrepreneurs
4. To advocate for co-ops to use their resources to provide services needed specifically by women, arising from their multiple roles


Roles
As a resource center, AWCF assists and provides services to co-op organizations and social development agencies (SDAs) in the areas of gender mainstreaming and co-op development. As an advocacy body, it promotes gender awareness and integration of gender concerns in co-ops and SDAs in the international, regional and local levels.

AWCF takes a two-pronged approach in its work:
1. To transform and enable co-ops to become vehicles for gender equality and gender equity
2.To enable women and men in co-ops to advocate change in and through co-ops for their benefit