Our Mission
ICAN promotes inclusive and sustainable peace globally.
Recognizing the gendered impact of conflict and the critical role of women peacebuilders, we:
Shape and guide peace and security policies through thought leadership, strategic advice, and gender-responsive analysis;
Foster a global movement of locally rooted women peacebuilders to have voice and influence in matters of peace, conflict, rights, and human security;
Bring the word and spirit of the Women, Peace, and Security agenda to life.
We connect women peacebuilders across countries to break their isolation and learn from each other’s experiences.
We connect them to the policy community so they can speak directly to inform and improve policymaking and programming.
Guiding Principles
“We’re called ICAN because it’s very much about what I can do.
We have an appetite for trust—meaning we trust that our partners have the expertise and understanding of what their communities need. We build trusted relationships with our governmental partners, too.
Our focus is on being proactive, finding practical solutions and figuring out what ‘we can do’ when others are stuck in ‘we can’t.’”
– Sanam Naraghi Anderlini, MBE, Founder and CEO, ICAN
Network & Movement Building
Effective networks require weaving the net to enable the work. We take a holistic approach to supporting our partners by providing personal solidarity, professional development, and opportunities for institutional support and strengthening.
Wars and crises bring out the worst and the best in humanity. Our WASL partners are among the very best.
“ICAN’s high level of responsiveness to WASL members…contributes to strong contextual sensitivity, greater local rootedness and innovation in programming.”
– Merits Partnership, Independent Evaluation (December 2022)
“ICAN’s commitment to gender equality and peacebuilding is crucial to creating a more just and peaceful world. By amplifying the voices of women and providing them with the tools and resources they need to lead, ICAN is helping to build a better future for us all.”
– Haideh Chubin, Managing Director, Deloitte and Touche LLP, ICAN Board Member