What is EMPOWER?
In some of the world’s most fragile and conflict-affected regions, women and girls face enormous barriers to education, safety, and economic opportunity. The EMPOWER programme, funded through Irish Aid’s Civil Society Partnership (ICSP) and led by World Vision Ireland, is a bold initiative designed to address these challenges head-on.
Operating in Somalia, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Syria, EMPOWER aims to protect and uplift the most vulnerable women and girls by improving access to education, strengthening protection services, and promoting social and economic empowerment.
At its heart, EMPOWER is about changing mindsets and systems. It tackles the root causes of gender-based violence (GBV), exclusion, and inequality by engaging communities, schools, and local leaders. It promotes safe spaces for women and girls, supports alternative learning pathways for those who have missed out on education, and strengthens referral systems for survivors of violence.
Programme Goals and Theory of Change
The EMPOWER Theory of Change is simple but powerful:
If children, especially girls, have increased access to safe, inclusive, and quality education,
and women and girls have improved access to protection services and economic opportunities,
then women and girls will be protected and empowered.
This vision is supported by two core outcomes:
- Outcome 1: Increased equitable access to quality, inclusive, safe, gender-responsive education and learning for vulnerable children, particularly girls.
- Outcome 2: Improved social and economic empowerment and protection services for the most vulnerable women and girls.
EMPOWER places a strong emphasis on women and children as direct beneficiaries, particularly out-of-school girls, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and host communities. It also engages men and boys to help transform harmful gender norms and promote inclusion.
The programme aims to directly benefit over 88,000 people, including:
- 23,000 women
- 22,500 men
- 20,800 girls
- 22,761 boys
The EMPOWER programme delivers a wide range of activities tailored to the needs of women, girls, and vulnerable communities in fragile contexts. Central to its approach is the creation of safe spaces for women and girls, as well as child- and youth-friendly environments that foster protection and inclusion.
Teachers receive targeted training to improve the quality and sensitivity of education, while schools benefit from facility upgrades and the introduction of reading corners to support literacy and learning. Beyond education, EMPOWER supports income-generating activities that help women build financial independence and resilience.
The programme also focuses on raising awareness of relevant policies and laws, particularly those related to education and gender-based violence (GBV). Through community outreach and advocacy, EMPOWER promotes understanding of harmful practices and strengthens referral pathways for survivors of violence. GBV response services, including psychosocial support, are tailored to each country’s context, ensuring that women and girls receive the care and protection they need.
The programme also uses proven models such as the Whole School Approach, which strengthens school leadership, teacher capacity, and family-community partnerships, and Social Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC) strategies to foster supportive environments for lasting change.
EMPOWER is about restoring dignity, creating opportunity, and building resilience in places where hope is often in short supply. By investing in education, protection, and empowerment, World Vision Ireland and its partners are helping women and girls shape a better future for themselves, their families, and their communities.