International Development

Lasting change in health, education, and economic opportunity starts with strong partnerships. We work alongside organizations that are deeply rooted in their communities, focused on outcomes, and committed to the long term.

About the Program

Our International Development grant program supports women and girls to flourish. We focus on approaches that are grounded in evidence, led by strong local partners, and designed for durable, meaningful impact.

Our work is guided by a simple but important insight: outcomes across health, education, and economic opportunity are deeply connected. When mothers and children are healthy, children are more likely to learn, and women are better able to participate in economic life. When girls stay in school and women have access to dignified work, families are stronger and health outcomes improve.

By investing in both Maternal & Child Health and Women & Girls Opportunity, with a primary focus on Sub-Saharan Africa, we are supporting a cycle of change where progress in one area strengthens the other.

Impact at a Glance

In 2026, we committed more than $5.2 million to charities working throughout the Global South. The numbers below reflect two things: results reported by our partners from the last fiscal year, and projected reach from grants approved in that same period. They represent a selection of the metrics our partners track, not the full picture, but a snapshot of what’s been achieved and what’s on the horizon.

148,424 people reached with essential health, nutrition, and clean water services
20,073 women supported through education, skills, and livelihoods
299,185 people and girls expected to see improved health outcomes
203,255 women and girls expected to advance their education or increase their income

Our Focus Areas

Our program works across two interconnected focus areas, each with three action areas. Select a focus area to learn more about the work we support and what we look for in partners.

Overview

Our Maternal & Child Health focus area aims to improve survival, health, and long-term well-being for mothers and children. We prioritize interventions that address the most significant drivers of maternal and child outcomes, including health system capacity, clean water and sanitation, and early childhood nutrition and development.

Maternal and child health is foundational to progress across all development outcomes. When mothers and children are healthy, children are more likely to attend and succeed in school, and women are better able to participate in economic life.

Action area: Paediatric and maternal health workforce development and quality of care

Trained health professionals are among the most significant drivers of maternal and child survival. This action area focuses on strengthening maternal, newborn, and paediatric health systems by building skilled clinical workforces, improving quality of care, and developing durable local leadership. Investments in workforce development are highly cost-effective because they strengthen entire health systems, not just isolated services.

Action area: Water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) as a foundation for maternal and child health

Access to safe water and sanitation is one of the most cost-effective investments in global health. This action area focuses on expanding access to WASH in communities, schools, and health facilities. Poor WASH conditions are a root cause of maternal infections, neonatal illness, and childhood disease, and create disproportionate burdens for women and girls — in time, safety, and opportunity.

Action area: Early childhood nutrition, growth, and development

Nutrition in the first 1,000 days is one of the strongest predictors of lifelong health, cognitive development, and economic opportunity. This action area focuses on improving maternal and early childhood nutrition and supporting healthy growth and development. The evidence is clear: well-nourished children are more likely to learn, thrive in school, and participate fully in economic life as adults.

Overview

Our Women & Girls Opportunity focus area supports women and girls to access education, build skills, and participate fully in economic life. We focus on interventions that strengthen pathways from learning to livelihoods, recognizing that education, economic opportunity, and agency are deeply interconnected.

Investments in education and economic opportunity for women and girls are among the most powerful drivers of improved maternal and child health. Girls who stay in school are more likely to delay marriage and childbirth, have healthier children, and access health services. Women with stable incomes are better able to provide nutrition, access care, and invest in their families’ well-being.

Action area: Girls’ education — access, retention, and quality of learning

Girls’ education is one of the most effective investments in global development. This action area focuses on ensuring girls can access, remain in, and meaningfully benefit from primary and secondary education. Improving both access and quality of learning is essential — education only creates lasting opportunity when girls can stay in school and genuinely learn.

Action area: Adolescent and women’s pathways to dignified work and economic agency

Economic agency is a key driver of long-term well-being for women and their families. This action area focuses on supporting adolescent girls and women to transition into safe, dignified, and productive work through skills development, entrepreneurship, and labour market access. Ensuring that education translates into meaningful employment or enterprise is critical to achieving lasting impact.

Action area: Climate-resilient livelihoods and economic opportunities for women

When women have stable, sustainable incomes, the benefits extend across their families and communities — including improved health, nutrition, and education for children. This action area focuses on supporting women to build livelihoods that are resilient to climate and economic shocks, with an emphasis on approaches that are grounded in local context and linked to real markets.

A Note on Applications

The submission window for Expressions of Interest closed on July 13, 2026. We’re grateful to everyone who took the time to submit — the response reflects the strength of the work happening across our focus areas.

EOIs are currently under review. Organizations will be contacted directly with updates as the process moves forward.

At this time, the Peter Gilgan Foundation is not accepting new applications or Expressions of Interest for its International Development grant program.

Curious who makes up our newest International Development cohort? Explore the partners who are leading with courage, creativity, and aligned impact—turning shared purpose into real change in their communities.

See our International Development Grant Recipients

About the Program

Impact at a Glance

Our Focus Areas

Maternal & Child Health

Women & Girls Opportunity

A Note on Applications

Meet our Latest Partners

Related Content

Grant Programs

Our Approach to Partnership