What is BRIDGE?
BRIDGE is a specialised gender and development research and information service based in the Gender and Sexuality Cluster at the Institute of Development Studies (IDS), in the UK. As part of a global network of individuals and organisations working to advance gender equality, women’s rights, dignity and empowerment in development, we advocate for the crucial importance of a gender perspective in efforts to reduce poverty and promote social justice. BRIDGE is committed to making multilingual gender knowledge accessible outside the research community and to building bridges and dialogue between researchers, policy-makers and practitioners.
Our vision
Our vision is a world where gender equality, dignity and social justice prevail, where poverty is eliminated and where human rights -- including women’s rights - are realised.
Our mission
BRIDGE acts as a catalyst by creating spaces where gender knowledge and experience are shared, lesser heard voices are amplified, and learning and dialogue takes place. This enables the generation and exchange of relevant, accessible and diverse information to bring about transformation in attitudes and to inspire change in development policy and practice.
OUR THEORY OF CHANGE
Direct outcomes we seek to achieve:
Increased access to relevant, quality knowledge on gender and development
Networks for change are (further) developed and become more influential
Cutting edge agendas are identified and communicated
Actors are furnished with the evidence and tools they need to advocate and make good decisions on gender
Leading to:
Knowledge and practice in gender and development is shaped in ways that challenge stereotypes and transform attitudes, inequitable structures, processes and relationships
Long term outcomes we seek to contribute to:
Increased awareness of the relevance of gender to development
Better visibility of unequal gender power relations and of women’s rights
Greater challenging of damaging policies and practices, attitudes and assumptions
Changes in behaviour related to damaging beliefs and myths
Transformed and diversified discourses on gender and women rights
Strengthening evidence informed policies and practices on gender and women’s rights
Leading to:
Transformed gender relations that are based on equality and realisation of women’s rights
Poverty reduction and social justice