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About us: our strategy, values and policies

Global 50/50 is an independent think tank holding the world's most powerful institutions to account on gender. We generate evidence, set standards, and fuel the movement for gender justice – across health, law, and beyond.

Image: Untitled, Micha Serraf, South Africa (2018)

Why we exist

Gender shapes how we live: who gets hired, who gets treated, who gets heard. When the institutions making those decisions ignore gender, people get worse healthcare, worse justice, fewer opportunities. The evidence for this is overwhelming and, yet, for decades it has not been enough.

We know that evidence alone doesn’t change how powerful institutions behave. That’s why, in 2017, we founded Global 50/50. Through it, we developed a model that combines the rigour of academic research with an understanding of how policy change happens, and the reach of advocates, communicators and strategists who turn evidence into pressure for progress.

Nine years on, that model is working. Still, the need for it is greater than ever. In 2025, for the first time since we began reporting in 2018, we recorded measurable regression on every variable we track annually. Around the world, work on gender justice is facing direct political, legal, and institutional opposition. Independent, rigorous accountability has never mattered more, which is why we are pushing even further to equip the gender justice movement with the evidence, the networks and the arguments it needs to drive structural change.

Our vision

Global 50/50 envisions a world where gender justice is a reality for all.

Our mission

Global 50/50 informs, inspires and incites action and accountability for gender justice through rigorous evidence, accountability and strengthening movements for change.

How we work

Our work operates through three mutually reinforcing pillars.

Pillar 1: Embedding accountability in institutions

We assess hundreds of organisations each year – government bodies, courts, UN agencies, NGOs, law firms, multinational corporations – against the same global, evidence-informed standards. Our annual reports are the global benchmark in their fields, and our findings drive real institutional change: refreshed fairness and equity policies, first-ever pay equity reviews, governance reforms.

Pillar 2: Shaping narratives about gender and power

Data alone does not transform systems. We translate our institutional analysis into arguments, briefings and public narratives that shift how gender inequality is understood – from representation gaps to the structural drivers of power and exclusion. Our research reaches global audiences and is cited in policy processes, media and academic debate worldwide.

Pillar 3: Equipping the gender justice ecosystem

We started as an evidence generator. We are now active in the gender justice movement, as facilitator and convenor, providing connective tissue that helps bring together institutional leaders, funders and movement actors together around the questions the evidence raises. We build open-access narratives, tools and networks to support the gender justice field to act collectively and drive structural change beyond any single organisation or political cycle.

Our strategy 2026–2029

Our current strategy deepens our core accountability work while expanding our role as a catalyst for the wider gender justice movement. By 2029 we aim to see gender accountability standards adopted or referenced by major institutions, G5050 analysis shaping policy debates and driving institutional reform, and our convening spaces recognised as a trusted, catalytic resource across the gender justice ecosystem.

Read our Strategy 2026-2029

 

Our values 

Our work is grounded in social justice and guided by internationally recognised frameworks, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Sustainable Development Goals, and the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. The principles that govern how we work:

  • Integrity & independence. We seek to uphold the highest standards of ethics and accountability in everything we do. We maintain a non-partisan, non-sectarian approach and only accept funding that allows us to operate independently, ensuring our work is never compromised.
  • Openness & trust. We are committed to transparency in all aspects of our work, including our funding model, governance, and decision-making, and provide clear, timely communication to all stakeholders, both external partners and within our team.
  • Justice-driven research. Our research is solutions-oriented and grounded in a lens of equity and social justice. We analyse findings to challenge systemic barriers, address gender inequalities, and drive tangible, meaningful change in the systems we study.
  • Equity & inclusion. We foster a diverse, inclusive, and equitable environment in our teams, our collaborations, and our research design. We actively integrate learning, mentorship, and visibility opportunities for our collective members, recognising that diverse perspectives make our work stronger.
  • Continuous growth & collaboration. We prioritise fairness in governance, recognition, and benefit-sharing across all partnerships, and hold ourselves accountable to these principles in practice. We continuously reflect on and strengthen our collaborative practices to keep them equitable and effective.

Workplace policies

As an employer, Global 50/50 (formerly Global Health 50/50) has developed a set of policies to ensure the wellbeing, safety and development of our staff. As part of commitment to equality and diversity we implement a number of workplace policies in our organisation to support the careers of all staff. Below is a selection of our policies that we believe are particularly key to addressing diversity, equality and inclusion in the workplace. Making these publicly available ensures transparency and accountability and we encourage all organisations to do the same.

If you are looking to develop similar policies for your organisation, see our policy repository and our how-to guides for additional resources.

Our structure

Global 50/50 is a UK-registered charity (charity number 1194015), certified as equivalent to a US Certified Public Charity (Equivalency Determination valid until 31 March 2027). We are governed by our Board of Trustees and receive strategic direction from our global Advisory Councils.

Meet the Advisors and Trustees

Funding

Our research is made possible through the generous support of a range of philanthropic and public funders.

We are currently supported by the following grants:

  • Global Health 50/50 Annual Report – The Gates Foundation
  • General operating support – Co-Impact Philanthropic Funds

We are grateful for past funding received from The Wellcome Trust, New Venture Fund, Global Health Innovative Technology Fund, a philanthropic donor who chooses to remain anonymous, the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), and voluntary donations from the public.

We welcome conversations with funders and partners who share our vision for gender equality and justice across global systems. If you would like to speak to us about supporting our work, please contact us – info@global5050.org.

Reporting misconduct

We strive to do our work with honesty and integrity and expect the same of all of our Collective members. However, if you experience or suspect misconduct we encourage you to communicate your concerns. All communication received will be taken seriously, and investigated if need be. We encourage a culture of openness and accountability in all our interactions with employees, contractors, service providers, partners and the public.

Misconduct can be reported through Protect, an independent whistleblowing charity. You can reach them at: