RESOURCES

RESEARCH

Lessons at the Intersection of Climate and Gender

Rise Up Together is proud to release our report, Lessons at the Intersection of Climate and Gender. Drawing on insights from more than 530 civil society organizations and movement leaders across Africa, South Asia, the United States, and beyond, this report explores a critical reality: climate change is not simply an environmental issue. It is reshaping livelihoods, education, health, and economic opportunity – and its impacts are deeply gendered. Our research found that while grassroots leaders and community-based organizations are already advancing innovative, locally led solutions to the growing climate crisis, they continue to face persistent barriers, making climate change and its impacts ever more challenging to address. 

At the same time, this research offers a powerful message of hope. Across regions, local leaders are building community-driven solutions, strengthening resilience, and advocating for systemic change. The report outlines recommendations for funders, policymakers, civil society organizations, and intermediary organizations to help accelerate this work.

Leaders First: Insights from Our 2025 Technical Assistance Evaluation

As part of our ongoing learning agenda, Rise Up Together conducted a technical assistance evaluation to better understand how our support strengthens leaders’ organizational capacity and advocacy impact. Drawing on feedback from 133 recent grantees across nine countries, this research examines the effectiveness of our technical assistance model and identifies opportunities for continued improvement. The findings reinforce what leaders have long told us: sustained, trust-based support plays a critical role in turning advocacy goals into lasting change. Read more.

Alumni Survey Reflects RU Leaders Are ‘Multipliers of Knowledge’

Rise Up Together's 2024 alumni survey explored the long-term impact of our Leadership and Advocacy Accelerator on leaders, organizations, and communities around the world. Drawing on responses from 230 alumni representing cohorts from 2009–2023 across India, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, South Africa, and the United States, the survey examined how leaders continue to apply, share, and expand upon the knowledge and skills gained through Rise Up programming. The findings reveal that the impact of our model extends far beyond individual leaders, strengthening local organizations and fostering a ripple effect of advocacy knowledge, leadership development, and community-driven change long after participation in the program has ended. Read more.

PUBLICATIONS

Alliance | “Local leaders have the solutions: Why aren’t we funding them?”

Alliance magazine highlighted Rise Up’s research on how funders can better support community driven solutions, addressing the stark reality that only 2 percent of global funding reaches local leaders and organizations who are creating change in their own communities. Co-authored by Rise Up’s Executive Director Dr. Denise R. Dunning, Director of Learning Josie Ramos, and Rise Up Leader Alejandra García Muñiz, the article features insights from the 2022 external evaluation conducted by Dalberg Advisors, which drew on research with 220 Rise Up Leaders in 14 countries to identify concrete strategies for how philanthropy can better support local leaders and organizations. Read it here.

Industry Week | “We’re Women Leaders Answering the Call for Investments in Girls”

On International Day of the Girl (October 11) 2024, Rise Up’s Executive Director Dr. Denise R. Dunning co-authored a powerful op-ed with Cummins Inc. Chair and CEO Jennifer Rumsey in Industry Week calling on business, philanthropic, and nonprofit leaders to increase investments in girls. Read it here.

East Bay Magazine | “Women helping women succeed”

East Bay Magazine featured Rise Up’s impactful work in California, spotlighting Oakland-based Rise Up Leader Sadia Khan and her organization, the Family Violence Law Center. Sadia is standing up for the rights of youth in California by addressing the often-overlooked issue of early and forced marriage — an urgent problem affecting an estimated 9,000 young people annually across the state. Through survivor-centered research and policy advocacy, she is working to establish a statewide ban on child marriage. Read it here.

CURRICULUM

Girl-centered Guide to Advocacy

Rise Up Together’s award-winning Girl-centered Guide to Advocacy is an integral part of our model. Our intensive curriculum engages girls and their allies in strategic advocacy to improve girls’ lives around the world. Our methodology leverages over ten years of experience in advocacy to enable participants to improve laws, policies, programs, and funding for girls and women.

Girls' Voices Curriculum

Developed in partnership with Girl Up, our Girls' Voices Curriculum is specifically designed for adult advisors and other facilitators to work with adolescent girls who want to make change in their own community and be part of a movement for gender equality. The curriculum helps girl leaders and their allies to identify the issues that impact girls most deeply in their communities, and develop strategies to launch girl-led advocacy campaigns to create a more just and equitable world. 

Our publications include evaluation reports, case studies, policy briefs and other resources for local leaders and organizations.