Associated Country Women of the World

What Associated Country Women of the World does

Associated Country Women of the World (ACWW) is a charitable incorporated organisation registered in England and Wales (CIO 1174798), founded in 1929 to bring together rural women and their organisations worldwide to address isolation, discrimination, and limited access to political, economic, and educational opportunities. ACWW operates a global membership-based model, with millions of individual members and member societies organised across 60 countries and grouped into nine geographic areas, each overseen by an Area President and a network of volunteer Coordinators nominated by member societies. The organisation's programmatic surface is built around three pillars — climate-smart agriculture, rural women's health, and education and community development — supported by the Rural Women in Action Fund (grants of up to £10,000), advocacy through UN Consultative Status at FAO, UNESCO, and the Human Rights Council, the annual "Women Walk the World" fundraising event since 2012, and the triennial governance cycle culminating in the 31st World Conference in Ottawa in 2026.

ACWW's commercial structure is community-led rather than technology-driven. Revenue is generated from annual membership fees (calendar-year subscriptions at the individual and society level), donations and partner funding routed through the Rural Women in Action Fund, bequests and legacy gifts, merchandise sales via the ACWW online shop, and conference registration revenue (e.g., the 2026 Ottawa conference priced at £1,279 to £1,869 per delegate depending on room type and booking window). The organisation has invested over £4 million in grassroots funding historically and has passed more than 180 policy resolutions by popular vote since 1947. Distribution is anchored on the acww.org.uk website (membership, donations, conference registration, resource downloads) and a multi-channel awareness layer spanning social media (Facebook, X, LinkedIn), email newsletters, The Countrywoman Magazine, the "Leadership for Equality" podcast co-produced with UNESCO, and recurring campaigns such as the International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026 and the 16 Days of Global Activism.

The organisation is governed by an elected Board of Trustees serving three-year terms, with day-to-day operations carried out by a small Central Office team in London led by Executive Director Tish Collins. Strategic priorities from 2022 to 2026 emphasise advocacy, partnerships, and knowledge sharing, with recent leadership comprising World President Marie Kenny, Deputy World President Judith Awuor Juma, Treasurer Angela Cassels, and Secretary Vanda Gagiano. The 2023 ICCA Incredible Impacts Prize and the long-standing partnerships with UNESCO, Police Scotland, the UK and Mongolian National Commissions for UNESCO, FAO, and locally embedded implementing NGOs (Sain Tus, Geopolitical Alliance of Women, WORD, EMAC, RUT) demonstrate the breadth of the relationship ecosystem that underpins ACWW's mission delivery.

Name

Associated Country Women of the World

Legal name

Associated Country Women of the World

Website

https://acww.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1929

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Associated Country Women of the World is a UK-registered charity founded in 1929 that operates a global membership network of rural women across 60 countries, funding grassroots development projects and advocating at UN agencies including FAO, UNESCO, and the Human Rights Council.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Non-Profit / Rural Women's Empowerment

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Other Similar Organizations (except Business, Professional, Labor, and Political Organizations) (81399)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGABAF

Gender Equality & Women’s Empowerment

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/International Development & Poverty Alleviation

SECONDARYBPAGAFAD

Gender Equality & Women’s Rights Advocacy

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Civil Rights, Advocacy & Public Policy Organizations

SECONDARYBPADAGAF

Gender Equality & Women’s Rights

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/Human Rights, Democracy & Governance

Keywords

• Rural women's empowerment
• Charitable membership organisation
• International women's advocacy
• Grassroots development funding
• Global women's network

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership fees: Annual membership fees from both individual members and member societies. The membership year runs from 1st January to 31st December.
2. Donations and fundraising: Donations from members worldwide and partner-funding from like-minded organisations. The Rural Women in Action Fund supports projects, advocacy, and all other work. Women Walk the World is an annual fundraising initiative.
3. Legacy gifts: Bequests and gifts left in Wills by supporters. Legacy income is vital to the running of the charity.
4. Merchandise sales: Online shop selling ACWW merchandise.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Associated Country Women of the World (ACWW) is a UK-registered charity that operates a global membership-based programme for rural women, offering Individual and Society Memberships, the Rural Women in Action Fund (grants for grassroots projects in climate-smart agriculture, rural women's health, and education), advocacy representation at UN agencies (FAO, UNESCO, Human Rights Council, CSW), and convening events such as the Triennial World Conference and Area Conferences. It publishes The Countrywoman Magazine and the Leadership for Equality podcast (with UNESCO), and runs annual campaigns including Women Walk the World and 16 Days of Global Activism.

Product overview

ACWW operates as a charitable membership organisation offering a unified programme of services rather than a modular product platform. Core offerings include the Rural Women in Action Fund (grants programme), Individual and Society Memberships, and advocacy at the UN level. Events include the Triennial World Conference, Area Conferences, and campaigns such as Women Walk the World, the International Year of the Woman Farmer, and 16 Days of Global Activism. Digital content includes the Leadership for Equality podcast (with UNESCO) and The Countrywoman Magazine. The Coordinators Programme connects ACWW globally to member societies. Fundraising is facilitated through JustGiving integration, and membership/donation functionality is handled through the website.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Rural Women in Action Fund ACWW's primary grant programme funding grassroots development projects in three focus areas — Climate-smart Agriculture, Rural Women's Health, and Education and Community Development. Grants of up to £10,000 plus capacity-building support are awarded to rural women's organisations implementing local projects.
• Individual Membership Direct annual membership for individuals supporting ACWW's mission of rural women's empowerment. Members receive access to The Countrywoman Magazine, the World President's e-newsletter, member resources, and the right to participate in ACWW's triennial governance and policy resolution process.
• Society Membership Organisational annual membership for rural women's societies and groups (Categories 1–4), enabling them to participate in ACWW's global network, nominate Coordinators, vote on policy resolutions at the Triennial World Conference, and access funding opportunities through the Rural Women in Action Fund.
• Triennial World Conference Major international conference held every three years since 1929 where ACWW member societies gather for governance, policy resolution voting, and Board of Trustees elections. The 31st Triennial World Conference is scheduled for Ottawa, Canada in 2026, with tiered registration pricing including twin and single room packages at the Westin Ottawa hotel.
• Area Conferences Regional conferences organised by ACWW's nine global areas under the auspices of Area Presidents, providing member societies with opportunities to convene, share work, and engage with the organisation between Triennial World Conferences.
• ACWW Shop Online e-commerce shop selling ACWW-branded merchandise, with proceeds supporting the charity's work for rural women.
• Women Walk the World Annual global walking campaign running since 2012, held each April, where supporters organise local walking events to celebrate ACWW and raise funds for rural women via JustGiving integration.
• Legacy Giving Programme Legacy/bequest giving programme enabling supporters to leave gifts in their Wills to ACWW; legacy income is described as vital to running the charity.

Quantifiable outcome

• Invested over £4 million in grassroots funding since founding
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• UNESCOcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 August 2023UNESCO is a core strategic partner for ACWW's advocacy and programme work. The Women's Empowerment Summit in Mongolia was jointly funded by ACWW and UNESCO under the 2022-2023 UNESCO Participation Programme. ACWW also co-produces the 'Leadership for Equality' podcast with UNESCO, featuring episodes on women's leadership with guests from various sectors. ACWW uses its Consultative Status with UNESCO to advocate for equitable access to quality education, traditional knowledge, indigenous languages, and global citizenship.
• Police ScotlandsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 August 2023Police Scotland's Domestic Abuse Co-ordination Unit contributed to the delivery of the Women's Empowerment Summit in Mongolia with expertise on tackling Domestic Violence. The presentation explored the reality of policing domestic violence in the context of a diverse, geographically dispersed region with a large rural population.
• UK National Commission for UNESCOsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 August 2023UK National Commission for UNESCO supported ACWW's application for funding through the UNESCO Participation Programme. Secretary-General James Bridge appeared at the opening ceremony of the Mongolia Summit via video. This is an element of continued cooperation between ACWW and the UK National Commission.
• Mongolian National Commission for UNESCOsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 August 2023Mongolian National Commission for UNESCO supported the Women's Empowerment Summit in Mongolia as part of the UNESCO Participation Programme.
• FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFAO is a key advocacy partner for ACWW. At the FAO, ACWW advocates for the importance of family farming, women's land rights, Indigenous seed protection, food security and food sovereignty. The FAO Home Page for IYWF (International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026) is referenced as a resource. ACWW partners with FAO to advance the goals of the International Year of the Woman Farmer.
• Sain Tus Development Bridge NGOcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLong-term local partner in Mongolia implementing women's economic empowerment projects. Founded in 2005, the organization has worked with ACWW since 2014 funding three women's economic empowerment projects. Implemented the Women's Empowerment Summit in Khovd, Mongolia in August 2023. Led by Founder and Director Tugrug Uugan-Erdene.
• Geopolitical Alliance of WomensupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerUkraine-based women's organization that implemented the 'Planting Seeds of Peace' project for Ukrainian refugee children in Bucharest, Romania. Project designed to help children recover from war trauma through practical horticulture training.
• Association of Ukrainian Romania TeacherssupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartnered with Geopolitical Alliance of Women to implement the Planting Seeds of Peace project training programme for Ukrainian refugee children in Romania.
• NGO Major GroupsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerACWW is listed as a member of the NGO Major Group, which participates in UN processes including CSW (Commission on the Status of Women).

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/acww_news
• Facebookfacebook.com/acww.media
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/associated-country-women-of-the-world

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles22 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Associated Country Women of the World