The Feminist Foreign Policy Collaborative (FFPC) is a left-of-center advocacy group based in the United States that advocates for collaborating with international organizations and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) to promote the adoption of left-of-center policies on gender, LGBT, and racial issues worldwide. The Group is a project of Panorama Global, a left-of-center advocacy group network. ^{1 2}

The collaborative operates two advocacy campaigns: the Global Partner Network for Feminist Foreign Policy and the Coalition for a Feminist Foreign Policy in the United States. The latter campaign, in 2019 endorsed a draft created by the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW) called “Toward a Feminist Foreign Policy in the United States.” The document promoted advocating foreign policies within the U.S cen towards, “gender equality, human rights, peace, and environmental integrity.” ³ In 2023, the group received $200,000 in funding from philanthropist George Soros’ Open Society Foundations (OSF) to support the organization’s founding. ^{1 2 4}

Background

Feminist Foreign Policy Collaborative (FFPC) grew out of an effort to publish a document outlining what a “Feminist Foreign Policy” would look like in the United States and to promote the adoption of such frameworks in other countries. The group launched its website in 2020 and formed in 2022 when Lyric Thompson, then a policy and advocacy director at the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW), left to found the organization and lead it full-time. ⁵

The group is a fiscally sponsored project of Panorama Global, a left-of-center pass-through funder for similar organizations that advocate on LGBT interests, voter engagement, education policy, and human welfare. Panorama Global has close ties to the Gates Foundation and is a member of the umbrella organization Panorama Group, along with Panorama Action and Panorama Strategy. ^{6 7}

Activities

The Feminist Foreign Policy Collaborative (FFPC) has previously promoted the integration of feminist foreign policy in foreign affairs policymaking. In 2019, its Coalition for a Feminist Foreign Policy in the United States advocacy campaign endorsed a draft created by foreign policy advocates on the subject titled “Toward a Feminist Foreign Policy in the United States.” The draft claimed, “the policy of a state that defines its interactions with other states…in a manner that prioritizes gender equality and environmental integrity, enshrines the human rights of all, seeks to disrupt colonial, racist, patriarchal and male-dominated power structures, and allocates significant resources, including research, to achieve that vision.” ⁴

The draft further pointed out Sweden’s adoption of similar policies in 2014 as well as efforts in Canada and Mexico as support for such proposals. It also endorsed promoting such policies at international organizations such as the United Nations as well as Sweden’s push within the U.N. Security Council to “consult with women peace-builders in its debates.” The group also endorsed Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy claiming they set a “benchmark of committing 95 percent of Canada’s foreign assistance to gender equality—such as providing education to girls, offering family planning to women or promoting women’s political participation.” ⁸

Finally, the draft endorsed, “ensuring equal opportunity to meet performance standards for female and LGBTQIA+ servicemembers…” and”…comprehensive coverage of and access to sexual and reproductive health services, including contraception and abortion, for people serving in the military.” ⁴

1. “Feminist Foreign Policy Collaborative.” Open Society Foundations Grants Database. Accessed September 29, 2024. https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/grants/past?filter_keyword=feminist+foreign+policy+&grant_id=OR2023-89723
2. “What We Do.” Feminist Foreign Policy Collaborative. Accessed September 29, 2024. https://www.ffpcollaborative.org/what-we-do
3. “Toward a Feminist Foreign Policy in the United States (Discussion Draft).” International Center For Research on Women, Accessed October 15, 2024. https://www.icrw.org/publications/toward-a-feminist-foreign-policy-in-the-united-states-discussion-draft/
4. Thompson, Lyric and Clement, Rachel. “Toward a Feminist Foreign Policy in the United States.” International Center for Research on Women. October 2019. Accessed September 29, 2024. https://www.icrw.org/publications/toward-a-feminist-foreign-policy-in-the-united-states-discussion-draft/
5. “Lyric Thompson.” LinkedIn Profile. Accessed September 29, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/in/lyric-thompson-4004a325/details/experience/
6. ^[1] “Committed Grants Database: Panorama Global.” Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Accessed April 14, 2022. https://www.gatesfoundation.org/about/committed-grants?q=Panorama%20Global#committed_grants
7. “Gabrielle Fitzgerald.” LinkedIn. Accessed April 13, 2022. https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabriellefitzgerald/
8. Thompson, Lyric. “From Sweden to Mexico, Foreign Policy Goes Feminist. Is the U.S. Next?” Ms. Magazine. May 5, 2020. Accessed September 29, 2024. https://msmagazine.com/2020/05/05/from-sweden-to-mexico-foreign-policy-goes-feminist-is-the-u-s-next/