Global aid is crucial for all communities, with a particular emphasis on those facing marginalization. A survey conducted in 2021 by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in conjunction with the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative revealed that 109 countries are grappling with extreme poverty. Among them, Sub-Saharan Africa contains 42 countries, a region frequently marginalized globally. When problems such as poverty arise, policymakers implement specific initiatives to eradicate them through public policy implementation.

International Black Women’s Institute of Public Policy

The nonprofit International Black Women’s Institute of Public Policy is in Washington. The group aims to assist marginalized groups, especially Black communities worldwide. Established in 2009 by two experienced professionals in aid and development, Barbara A. Perkins and Ka Flewellen, the initiative operates under the belief that even small-scale efforts can have far-reaching impacts worldwide.

Perkins was a member of the National Council of Negro Women in 1995 and participated in the Beijing Conference on Women. Flewellen collaborated with women in Cairo on issues such as natural disasters and influencing United States (U.S.) immigration policy affecting women departing from Cairo. The primary purpose of this group is to help Black women and others through public policy efforts and external support.

What Types of Public Policy Do They Focus On 

The nonprofit organization centers its efforts on five key policy areas: economics, education, health and wellness, human trafficking and violence against women. In 2015, the group raised concerns about equitable pay for women during a policy forum held over a Congressional meeting weekend for the Congressional Black Caucus. The organization hosts an annual public policy gathering as part of the Congressional Black Caucus conference. Attendees include women leaders from the Caribbean, Africa and other nations.

The objective of these gatherings is to generate policy papers addressing relevant issues. In October 2021, the organization published three policy papers, one of which focused on “Achieving Economic Security and Inclusion for Black Women.”

Programs and Initiatives

The International Black Women’s Institute of Public Policy has sponsored and collaborated on numerous programs to assist Black women and other marginalized groups. The organization has established a robust network to support individuals affected by natural disasters. In 2010, the “Boots on the Ground Initiative” to aid those in need.

The program aims to provide footwear, including shoes and boots, to countries afflicted by natural disasters such as floods, enabling individuals to navigate muddy and waterlogged terrain. Additionally, during the 2019 hurricane season, particularly Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas, the organization facilitated humanitarian aid efforts. In collaboration with Med Share, it donated assistance to 200 affected families in the region.

The nonprofit is also involved in a program addressing the water crisis in Haiti. Despite many water systems in the country, a World Bank report from 2022 reveals that approximately 90% of them are not functioning correctly.

The International Black Women’s Institute of Public Policy collaborates with another nonprofit organization called “Community2Community” (C2C), established in 2010, to assist Haiti in building a sustainable and thriving community in their region. The nonprofit is working with C2C to raise and allocate funds for them to complete the third and fourth phases of its Health and Sanitation initiative, which started around the Mountainside Partner Community.

A primary objective is to establish a water distribution system in the region. The project is currently in its third phase, with plans to construct a pump house powered by solar energy to facilitate water pumping to the mountaintop. The organization also established the Dorothy I Height Global Leadership Academy (DIHGLA) to uplift disenfranchised Black women. Named after the esteemed Black activist Dorothy I Height, the program equips Black women with the skills and knowledge to become global advocates and leaders. Emphasizing character development, cultural competence and gender diplomacy, the program empowers participants to make meaningful contributions worldwide.

– Madison McCray
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