At Crown Agents, our mission is to accelerate self-sufficiency and prosperity for all. But gender inequality and social exclusion mean that not everyone has equal access and opportunity. To level the playing field, we recognise that we must do more to advance the rights, needs and priorities of women and marginalised groups, including those who face discrimination based on individual and intersecting factors such as sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, race, ethnicity, nationality, disability status and more. 

Introducing the Gender and Social Inclusion (GESI) Programming Policy 

As 2024 is underway, we are proud to announce the launch of Crown Agents’ first GESI Programming Policy. The policy ensures that GESI considerations inform the design and delivery of programmes across the global development community.  

Through incorporating international legislative frameworks, alongside the UK Government’s legislative and policy commitments in this space, our policy furthers the global commitment of advancing the rights of women and marginalised groups, including in humanitarian emergencies and situations of protracted crisis.  

This isn’t just a document; it’s a roadmap for action, a promise to embed GESI into the very fabric of our development work, crisis response and recovery programmes. 

What does this mean in practice? 

We commit to the following priority actions: 

• Organisational Leadership: Our CEO, Executive Team, and senior management will champion GESI through clear, consistent messaging and action. 
• Programming Commitments: Every major programme will undergo a robust GESI analysis, ensuring activities reflect the rights, needs, and priorities of diverse communities. 
• Partnerships: We’ll forge strategic collaborations with diverse organisations, prioritising partnerships with a focus on women and marginalised communities. 

Committed to transparency and accountability, we will publish a report detailing our GESI progress and implementation efforts each year. 

Our work is evolving rapidly in this area. We know we are embarking on a long, complex and challenging journey, but we see this as integral to achieving our vision – accelerating self-sufficiency and prosperity for all.