The International Gender Studies Centre at the Department for International Development, University of Oxford is urgently seeking funding in this its 25th anniversary year.

The Centre, originally the Centre for Cross Cultural Research on Women, works on gender and development issues in regions around the world.

Through its Visiting Fellows programme, scholars from all over the world, who would not otherwise be able to, are given the opportunity to access the rich resources of Oxford’s academic and networking opportunities and take back what they have gained to help their own communities.

The Centre’s members advise many national and international development projects on the true impact of their schemes through rigorous academic research.

The Centre convenes international workshops, lectures and seminar series on key issues, as well as teaching. It also produces numerous related publications.

Government cuts and consequent University financial constraints mean that the Centre now critically needs to find funding if it is to continue this seminal and important work

Background
The International Gender Studies Centre (IGS) was established at the University of Oxford in 1983 to advance research on gender, culture and development. The Centre undertakes critical scholarly research on the contributions of and the constraints facing women around the globe.

The Centre’s members form a multi-disciplinary research unit with backgrounds in social anthropology, human geography, history, literature, law, sociology and politics.

Past and present successes
The International Gender Studies Centre is celebrating 25 years with the University of Oxford. Uniquely within the University, the Centre’s research, teaching and publishing activities are aimed at analysing and interpreting gender differentiation and inequality. Gender is a key factor in the general advance of Development Studies as a discipline but also in its relation with applied development, its culture and its institutions.

• The patron of the Centre is Aung San Suu Kyi who called for “the education and empowerment of women” as indispensable to a “more caring, tolerant, just and peaceful life for all”. Now in its 25th anniversary year, the Centre has established a long track record of engaging in issues of gender injustice and discrimination, for example, addressing women’s lack of access to higher education and to positions of leadership.

• The Centre’s cutting-edge research, such as that on health care, water supplies, microcredit and faith-based groups, has practical application for facilitation of gender and context-sensitive social change; for example, such as work conducted by members on gender perspectives in water provision.
• Since 1983, the Visiting Fellowship Programme has enabled women and men from all regions and at various stages in their academic careers (141 Fellows from 50 countries so far) to access the rich educational resources of Oxford and thus make a difference to their home society.

The Visiting Fellowship Programme is a core activity of the Centre, with Fellows attending seminars, lectures and workshops, and these provide useful opportunities for cross-cultural exchange of research ideas.

Future aims
Building on the successes of its first 25 years at the University of Oxford, the International Gender Studies Centre has established a framework for future progress. In the coming years, the Centre aims:

• To sustain its tradition of innovation and progress in gender scholarship, publishing, teaching and active engagement with individuals and institutions both in the UK and in the global community.
• To facilitate dynamic research among young scholars at the beginning of their careers particularly for scholars from disadvantaged backgrounds.
• To continue developing as a site of education for social change through its teaching and mentoring programmes such as Linked Programmes with institutions in developing countries.
• To ensure the financial stability and sustainability of the Centre and its activities through on-going consolidation of the Centre’s infrastructure and through energetic fund-raising for current and new projects, at home and abroad.

Areas for support
The Centre now faces funding challenges to its continuation as a site of cross-cultural research, education, and outreach programmes. We have identified three core funding priorities:

• Centre core funding (salaries and Visiting Fellow programme expenses)
• Supporting the Lecturership in Gender and Development
• Research programmes

Recognition
The University of Oxford has a long history of public acknowledgement of its benefactors. We would be delighted to discuss with you ways in which we could recognise and celebrate a gift to support the work of the Centre. We would also welcome your own suggestions regarding ongoing involvement with the Centre and the development of a strong and committed partnership with the University.