Laying the Foundation for WLEH Implementation in 2026

By Jennifer Tapia Boada

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The new WLEH program implementation cycle officially runs from March 2026 to February 2027, marking the start of an exciting new phase in advancing our gender-transformative agenda.

Following the finalization of the donor agreement, the month of April was dedicated to an intensive planning phase led by our team WLEH members, Ayisha Diop and Jennifer Tapia Boada, during which the wider team worked to further operationalize the new workplan 2026 in alignment with our gender-transformative proposal. This included refining internal guidelines and Terms of Reference to ensure realignment and readiness for implementation across all program areas.

A key focus during this period was advancing the design and operationalization of our Incubator–Accelerator model, alongside strengthening the broader program ecosystem. In parallel, the team is coordinating closely to support the selection and planning of Coffee Hours at both global and country levels, the resumption of the Women Circles model, and the advancement of key global advocacy and engagement efforts.

Cross-cutting pillars will continue to support the initiative throughout implementation, including External Communications, coordinated by Jennifer Tapia Boada with the support of a strong communications team, and Monitoring & Evaluation, currently supported by Orbis’ M&E team, including Habtamu Negash and Titamenji Chulu. These functions will play a critical role in ensuring visibility, accountability, and learning across all areas of work.

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The planning phase lays a strong foundation for a coordinated implementation year. More updates on progress across WLEH’s areas of work are shared in the sections that follow.

Read more about the Incubator-Accelerator model here.

Review upcoming Coffee Hour events here.