When Women Rise, Communities Thrive

The Story Behind Women Rising International 

By Dr. Andrea Bertone and Elise Young, Co-Founders and Co-CEOs  

October 29, 2025 

Raised by Strong Women, Rooted in Resilience 

We were both raised by strong, resilient women who taught us that even in moments of crisis, there’s always an opportunity to grow stronger and come into our own. Those early lessons became the foundation of who we are — and ultimately, of Women Rising International. 

Both of us have pursued long careers international development, driven by a shared passion to help women and girls find and use their power. 

Our Journeys: From Global Advocacy to Shared Purpose 

Elise’s path began in advocacy for global food security and women’s economic empowerment. She served as a grassroots organizer at Bread for the World and then pursued her master's in international policy. After Haiti’s devastating 2010 earthquake, she worked with ActionAid alongside farmers’ movements and women’s organizations fighting for land and housing rights — and freedom from gender-based violence. 

Later, as Vice President of Women Thrive Worldwide, Elise worked in solidarity with women’s movements across more than 40 countries, advocating for U.S. and multilateral policies that were more equitable and truly informed by women’s leadership. 

Andrea’s path led her to complete a doctorate in anti-human trafficking and to spend over two decades at FHI 360, including as Director of Gender Equality and Social Inclusion. She worked with partners in countries such as Nigeria, Kenya, Senegal, and Mozambique to advance inclusive education and strong programs on sexual and reproductive health and freedom from gender-based violence. She specialized in conducting gender and social inclusion analyses, mainstreaming, and evaluation, and helped galvanize the Washington, D.C. gender community to address some of the toughest challenges in development. Her work brought organizations and leaders from around the world together to share ideas and co-create practical solutions. 

The Moment Our Paths Crossed 

In 2014, Elise launched a coalition on gender and development and invited Andrea to join. What began as a professional collaboration quickly became a strong friendship grounded in a shared purpose. 

We discovered that we not only had similar goals but similar values — a deep belief that true progress comes when we listen deeply, build bridges across cultures, and create space for everyone’s leadership to flourish. We later worked side by side at FHI 360 for 8½ years, supporting the Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) team and collaborating with hundreds of colleagues and partner organizations to advance collective change. 

When Elise transitioned to Counterpart International as Senior Director for Women’s Leadership, she invited Andrea to join and serve once again as GESI Director — a testament to the enduring friendship and partnership we had built. 

The Turning Point: When the System Changed Overnight 

Then came January 2025. 

In an unprecedented decision, nearly all U.S. foreign aid was suddenly canceled. The ripple effects have been devastating — especially for women and youth. Food insecurity has surged. More girls and boys have left school or entered early marriage. Health crises have deepened. 

We cried, we shouted, we grieved. And then, as our mothers taught us, we asked ourselves: What can we do? What is our responsibility in this new reality? 

From Crisis to Creation: The Birth of Women Rising International 

We began reaching out to our partners and allies — from Benin to Kenya, from Nigeria to Haiti — asking hard questions:  What worked well in the old system?  What was broken?  And how might we co-create something new — something truly led by women? 

We knew the statistics: only 1% of global foreign aid had ever gone directly to women’s organizations and businesses. Even less reached indigenous women, young women, or women with disabilities. Women and youth were rarely the ones designing or leading the programs meant to empower them. Yet, they are the experts. They are the innovators. They are the ones closest to the solutions. 

This realization has become our call to action. 

Building Bridges for a New Future 

We created Women Rising International to partner directly with women- and youth-led organizations and social enterprises from the very start — not as beneficiaries, but as co-designers, co-leaders, and changemakers. 

Together, we’re working to create and expand programs that advance food security; inclusive education; maternal, child, and reproductive health; and economic empowerment — all through deep respect, cross-cultural understanding, and ethical, equitable funding. 

Join Us 

Women Rising is the realization of a lifetime of lessons — taught to us by women and youth leaders around the world, especially in Africa. They are already the change the world needs. 

Our hope is that Women Rising International can serve as a bridge — connecting those who want to make a difference with those who are already doing it. 

Join us in supporting this movement. 

When women rise — communities thrive.