Gender Agenda

Seven in ten of the world’s poor people are women. Yet Oxfam’s long experience tells us that women are often most capable of tackling the conditions that keep their communities poor and vulnerable. All they need is the right support.

Come with us on a journey to Oxfam projects in Yemen and Liberia, where women are making a huge difference.

Getting girls into school

Mary Kolleh, 5, learning the alphabet at the blackboard during the nursery class at Yawerlee Elementary School. Photo: Aubrey Wade

Following debt cancellation, in 2007 Liberia's poorest people were offered free primary education for the first time. But poverty is still a major factor keeping girls out of school – leading to further poverty. That's where people like Korpo Lape come in.

Watch and listen

The Mothers of Yemen

Oxfam trained midwife Maha, 20 cleans up a newly born baby. Photo: Abbie Trayler-Smith

Yemen has one of the world's highest rates of women dying in childbirth. But in one remote district, Oxfam-trained midwives are doing groundbreaking work to keep mothers and babies healthy and safe.

Watch and listen

You can help

In Liberia, Yemen, and around the world, woman living in poor communities are making a huge difference. But for women's prospects to improve on a national and global scale, we need governments to act too. That's where you come in.

Make a difference

Make a difference

Join our call for more midwives and female teachers

Easy guide

Easy guide

Oxfam's work on gender equality explained

Tell a friend

Tell a friend