Quezon City, Philippines – The WAND Women’s Organization (WAND) officially launched on December 3, 2024, its latest casebook, Looking From the Balcony: Stories of Leadership, Innovation, and Women Empowerment Through the WAND-WRAAP Project, during the 2024 National Policy Forum held on December 3 in Quezon City.
The Casebook, authored by Solistrat CEO, Jay Carizo, highlights the leadership and governance contributions of grassroots women leaders across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. It documents the experiences of 10 women-led organizations, showcasing innovative approaches to gender-responsive governance while offering policy recommendations based on their work in local communities.
The launch was a key moment in the forum, where women leaders and stakeholders gathered to discuss the integration of gender concerns into governance. In addition to the book, WAND also introduced a series of audio-visual materials capturing the flagship projects of women’s organizations under the Adapt + Innovate Leadership Program.
Originally developed by the Galing Pook Foundation in 2022 for local government units (LGUs), the Adapt + Innovate Leadership Program was later adopted by WAND to strengthen the capacities of women-led organizations. With support from the Galing Pook Foundation, Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), and Global Affairs Canada, the program has empowered 10 women’s organizations and 50 community leaders to tackle key issues such as violence against women and children (VAWC), livelihood challenges, environmental protection, and early childhood education.
WAND and PBSP are among the 17-member organizations of the Foundation for a Sustainable Society, Inc. (FSSI), which continues to advocate for women’s economic empowerment through gender lens investing.
With the launch of Looking From the Balcony, WAND reinforces its commitment to amplifying the voices of grassroots women leaders, shaping inclusive governance, and driving gender-responsive policy reforms.