Women’s Initiative

Promoting education, healthcare, and economic opportunity for women around the world

Through the Women’s Initiative Fellowship program, we are preparing the next generation of women leaders in the Middle East and North Africa region. Our First Ladies Initiative is engaging and supporting First Ladies from around the world to effectively use their unique platforms.

Afghan Women's Project

500%

Since 2001, the number of girls attending school has increased 500%

Working to ensure the expansion and protection of women's rights in Afghanistan
Women's Initiative Fellowship

17K

Fellows report that more than 17,000 women are part of their growing networks

Preparing and empowering the next generation of women leaders in North Africa and the Middle East
First Ladies Initiative

40

Over 40 First Ladies have participated in Bush Institute summits

Engaging and supporting First Ladies from around the world to effectively use their unique platforms to advance issues for women and girls in their countries

Women's Initiative Team

Contact the Women's Initiative team: womensinitiative@bushcenter.org

Media Inquiries: Miriam Spradling, media@bushcenter.org

In the Spotlight: A Role Without a Rulebook: The Influence and Leadership of Global First Ladies

The George W. Bush Institute’s First Ladies Initiative and the International Center for Research on Women examined the expanding role of first ladies, their leadership on critical issues, the challenges they face in leveraging this unique platform, and how first ladies overcome those challenges to make a difference on critical issues at local, national, and global levels.

The research profiles 14 first ladies and includes interviews with 11 current and former first ladies from around the world, providing unique case studies for women’s leadership more broadly. The report was completed with generous support from Exxon Mobil.

Read the report