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Jazaka Salimu winnows mung beans in Makere village in Tana River County. Photo: Lisa Murray/Concern WorldwideJazaka Salimu winnows mung beans in Makere village in Tana River County. Photo: Lisa Murray/Concern WorldwideJazaka Salimu winnows mung beans in Makere village in Tana River County. Photo: Lisa Murray/Concern Worldwide

Women of Concern

Women of Concern

At Concern, we know that gender inequality is one of the major barriers to ending extreme poverty – but we also understand that women are often the most effective mobilisers of change within families and communities. We place women and girls at the heart of our programmes – because female empowerment and equality for women is progress for all.

We celebrated the fifth anniversary of the Women of Concern Annual Awards Luncheon on Friday 13 October, at The Round Room at The Mansion House in Dublin. This inspiring event highlighted Concern’s work in 25 of the world’s poorest countries and how we support a vital drive towards global gender equality. The event also paid tribute to programme participants who embody justice, generosity and compassion in their work and daily lives, and act as inspiring role models for us all. 

We would like to thank EY for sponsoring the Women of Concern 2023 Annual Awards Luncheon. We are so grateful for EY’s support of this important event again in 2023.  

Áine Lawlor was superlative as our MC for Women of Concern 2023. Áine is one of Ireland’s most experienced and insightful broadcasters, having worked on a broad range of radio and television programmes since joining RTE in 1984. 

This year's honouree

Each year, Women of Concern recognises an individual from the private or public sector for their exceptional achievements and extraordinary leadership in gender equality.

We were delighted in 2023 to honour Ifrah Ahmed, an Irish/Somali activist and campaigner who has dedicated her life to helping to eradicate female genital mutilation (FGM) and to ending gender-based violence, working in Ireland and Somalia.

Activist Ifrah Ahmed speaking at table, wearing blue head scarf and black dress
Ifrah Ahmed, this year's Women of Concern honoree. Photo: Ifrah Foundation

Through her organisation, the Ifrah Foundation, Ifrah is contributing to a reduction in FGM in Somalia, where the prevalence is the highest in the world, and she continues to work with refugees in Ireland. Ifrah's life-saving work, in collaboration with partners such as UNFPA, UNHCR and Irish Aid, uses advocacy and awareness-raising to directly empower communities and encourage gender equality. 

Farmer Malita Jeke with her cow that she bought with money from Concern Worldwide

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