International Center for Research on Women

The International Center for Research on Women (ICRW) is a non-profit organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., with a regional office in New Delhi, India and a project office in Uganda. ICRW works to promote gender equitable development within the field of international development.

Mission
According to the organization Web site:

ICRW's mission is to empower women, advance gender equality and fight poverty in the developing world. To accomplish this, ICRW works with partners to conduct empirical research, build capacity and advocate for evidence-based, practical ways to change policies and programs.

Focus areas
ICRW has identified six key priority areas. Through collaborations with partner organizations and governments in Africa, Asia, and South and Central America. Among this priorities are the economic empowerment of women, the prevention of HIV/AIDS among women and girls, the elimination of violence against women, the creation of better life options for women and girls, combating child marriage, and reducing malnutrition and hunger while increasing food security for vulnerable women.

ICRW is primarily a research institution whose strong quantitative and qualitative research contributes to the direct action of organizations and communities in which they work.

ICRW's tagline is, "ICRW turns insight into action."

Leadership
ICRW is directed by President Geeta Rao Gupta. Rao Gupta has worked with the organization since 1988 and has directed the organization since 1997. In addition to her work with ICRW, Rao Gupta has served as co-chair of the United Nations Secretary-General's High Level Panel on Youth Employment and co-chaired the United Nations Millennium Project's Task Force on Promoting Gender Equality and Empowering Women from 2002-2005. She has been awarded the Anne Rowe Award from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and the Working Mother Media Legacy Award. Rao Gupta currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Moriah Fund and the Nike Foundation Advisory Board and formerly was a member of the board for InterAction.

Rao Gupta received a Ph.D. in social psychology from Bangalore University, a master of philosophy degree from the University of Delhi, and a master's and bachelor of arts in psychology from the University of Delhi.

Board of Directors
ICRW has been directed by several renowned and well-recognized individuals within the field of international development as well as other key private sector and government individuals, including Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen, writer Ann Crittenden, and Brooke Shearer, spouse of Strobe Talbot, director of the Brookings Institute.

The current board of directors is available on ICRW's Web site.

Annual events and lectures
ICRW annually hosts the Irene Tinker Lecture, a fall lecture series named in honor of one of ICRW's founders and supporters, Dr. Irene Tinker. The lecture series has included speakers such as Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland, and Nobel Laureate in Economics, Amartya Sen.

To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the organization, ICRW hosted a 30th Anniversary Gala in 2006, held at the Kennedy Center on March 8, 2006. Honorees included Philip Knight of the Nike Foundation, Susan Berresford of the Ford Foundation and two international non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Actress Gina Davis served as Mistress of Ceremonies.