Across our portfolio, women’s empowerment stands out as a strong and consistent priority. On the occasion of International Women’s Day, Acacia Polatian, Grants Officer at the European Union Global Diaspora Facility (EUDiF), reviews the portfolio from a unique vantage point that goes beyond individual projects, revealing the diverse strategies diaspora organisations are adopting to advance women’s empowerment across regions, sectors and communities.

What becomes clear is that there is no single model. From climate-smart agriculture in coastal Bangladesh to renewable energy training in rural Colombia, each initiative is carefully tailored to local realities — responding to structural barriers, cultural norms, market conditions and community needs and priorities. Whether through cooperative leadership, digital tools, mentorship, peer learning or technical training, diaspora organisations are designing context-sensitive solutions that place women not just as beneficiaries, but as decision-makers, producers, innovators and leaders.

This piece shares eight examples from the EUDiF portfolio that illustrate how diaspora organisations are advancing women’s empowerment in practical and transformative ways. By highlighting these approaches, we aim to surface good practices, inspire cross-learning and showcase the added value diaspora actors bring to sustainable and inclusive development worldwide.