When policy labels shift, gender equality work carries on: Lessons from Sweden

The recent changes and shift surrounding Canada’s feminist international assistance approach did not come as a surprise. The global climate has been moving in this direction for some time, with changing political landscapes and competing priorities shaping how governments communicate their international commitments. Yet it is not all doom and gloom. If anything, this moment offers space to refocus on what truly drives progress: strong partnerships, evidence-based programming and a continued commitment to advancing gender equality where it matters most: in the communities living through crisis where World Vision Canada serves.

In the global development and humanitarian world, changes in direction and language happen at a much faster pace than we realize. Terms rise and fall in tandem with political cycles, public debates and shifting national priorities. Yet beneath these changes, one truth remains steady: advancing gender equality is essential to reducing poverty, strengthening resilience and supporting sustainable peace.

Lessons from Sweden

As Canada reflects on its policies and language used to describe its international engagement, it’s useful to look to Sweden, a country long recognized as a global leader and champion in advancing gender equality. Sweden was the first in the world to adopt what it called a feminist foreign policy, a move that drew worldwide attention and helped place gender equality more firmly on diplomatic and development agendas.

When Sweden’s government later chose to step away from that label in 2022, many in the humanitarian sector wondered what it would mean for its development agency, SIDA, and for international partners. The answer, it turns out, was reassuring. SIDA’s commitment to gender equality did not disappear; it was strengthened.

Rather than anchoring its work in a political slogan, SIDA integrated gender equality even more deeply into its operational systems. Gender analysis remained a requirement. Partnerships with women’s rights organizations continued. Funding streams stayed aligned with the principle that addressing gender inequality is fundamental to effective development and humanitarian outcomes.

The Swedish experience demonstrates an important lesson: removing a term does not erase the work. Sometimes it creates space to refocus on evidence, partnerships, and the day-to-day practices that make gender equality a reality for communities.

Commitment and collaboration transcend labels

This moment offers a similar opportunity for reflection in Canada. Humanitarian needs are rising, crises are becoming more complex, and the impact on women, men, girls and boys continues to be deeply unequal. Gendered vulnerabilities in emergencies, whether related to caregiving responsibilities, protection risks, addressing SGBV, access to services, or barriers to participation, remain central to effective response.

At World Vision Canada, this means maintaining collaborative, evidence-based dialogue with government partners, highlighting how gender analysis enhances effectiveness, how women’s and girls’ leadership strengthens resilience and how addressing gender-based protection risks is crucial in emergencies. These are principles that transcend labels. They are rooted in decades of practice, research and community experience.

Sweden’s trajectory demonstrates that advancing gender equality continues as long as institutions, practitioners and partners remain committed. The label may shift, but the purpose remains steady. Sweden’s experience offers a clear reminder that strong gender equality work is grounded in practice, not labels.

The importance of evidence

The most meaningful progress has always depended on the tools and approaches embedded in programming, including a robust gender analysis, community-driven assessments, equitable access to services, and ensuring that women, men, girls and boys can participate meaningfully in decisions that affect them. These fundamentals remain central in every humanitarian context in which we engage.

Sweden’s development community continued to advance gender equality precisely because of SIDA’s sustained, close partnerships with civil society, women’s rights local organizations and implementing partners. That collaborative spirit is equally vital in Canada’s work with international partners, where shared priorities and steady dialogue help keep gender considerations firmly integrated across programmes.

What ultimately drives commitment is evidence: when humanitarian interventions meaningfully address gender differences, demonstrating stronger protection outcomes, improved recovery and more resilient communities, gender equality becomes a practical necessity rather than a political statement.

As policy language shifts globally, our collective work continues to stay deliberate, steady and rooted in purpose. World Vision Canada remains committed to meeting the needs of the most vulnerable children and advancing gender equality across all humanitarian settings, drawing on evidence, deep partnership and a shared belief that every child deserves the opportunity to survive, recover and thrive.

Learn more about our work in gender equality

• From the frontlines of change: Advancing equity and climate justice through locally led action
• Learning and re-learning the power of youth voices
• Leveraging technology to advance solutions for gender-based violence