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FPC History and Vision

The Feminist Policy Collective (FPC) is a voluntary platform that was formally set up in February 2019 following a national consultation co-organised by a core group of feminists and founding organisations. The initial group of the FPC comprised a mix of individual researchers, academicians, policy advocates and feminist organisations, as well as UN Women. Since June 2018, FPC has been collectively working together on making the gender responsive budgeting framework more effective to transform the way policy and finance could change gender relations. Over the last five years (2019 to 2024) the members have voluntarily contributed to establishing the Collective and carrying out activities towards fulfilling the founding vision and mission.

The Feminist Policy Collective defines its vision as contributing to policies and practice on Transformative Financing for gender justice that advances the rights of women in all their diversity. FPC is committed to equality, equity and egalitarianism that is inclusive of the rights of all marginalised groups and gender-diverse communities, addressing historical and systemic discrimination that perpetuates deep inequalities.

The FPC mission is –

  • Creating evidence that centers the lived realities and voices of diverse women for informing policy formulation, implementation and monitoring.
  • Establishing platforms for dialogue to strengthen learning exchanges between practitioners, policy advocates, academia, administration and philanthropies that are committed to gender equality.
  • Taking forward key policy recommendations with the State for advancing women’s constitutional rights.
  • Contributing to a feminist discourse to inform key actors to influence local, national and global policymaking priorities.
  • Building partnerships with like-minded organisations and networks for advancing women’s constitutional rights.

As a voluntary group, the FPC is managed by a Steering Committee selected from among the larger Core Group, while day-to-day operation is managed by a full-time Coordinator who receives guidance from the Co-convenors who volunteer on a rotational basis. Operationally the FPC works through thematic working groups (WGs) that have been formed to work on Transformative Financing and Development; Women, Work and Poverty; Gender and Health and Gender-Based Violence.

The key activities of the FPC include research and publications, webinars and conference panels, and the flagship annual Pre-Budget Consultations (2019 to 2022) to identify policy priorities from an intersectional feminist lens to guide Union Departments and Ministries preparing for the imminent Union Budget. Beyond these, the FPC manages a website providing resources on transformative financing for gender justice and communicates on social media, as well as through an email listserv (the FPC Solidarity group). Resources for activities are pooled by various members, primarily on a pro-bono basis, as well as by associative institutions.

Membership

The initial group of the FPC is comprised of a mix of individual researchers, academicians, policy advocates and feminist organisations, as well as UN Women. FPC as of now has 12 member organisations namely, CBGA, CRSD, IWWAGE-LEAD at Krea University, JAGORI, MAKAAM, SAHAJ, UN Women, ISST, Budget Analysis and Research Centre with nine individual members namely, Aasha Kapur Mehta, Dipa Sinha, Jashodhara Dasgupta, Julie Thekkudan, Ritu Dewan, Sarojini Ganju Thakur, Subhalakshmi Nandi, Suneeta Dhar, Vibhuti Patel who do not represent any organization.

The Steering Committee with the Co-Conveners have worked on FPC membership guidelines, setting up criteria for membership as well as the process for inclusion of new members – both individual and organizational members.

Ways of Working

Steering Committee and Co-Conveners

In April 2020, a Steering Committee (SC) of nine members was selected by members of the FPC to guide the functioning of the FPC. The criteria for selection involved members' willingness to volunteer time and expertise for the work of FPC and respond promptly to ensure effective implementation of FPC activities. The tenure of the Steering Committee is ordinarily for two years. Out of the nine members, three or four will be chosen by the SC on a rotational basis to play the role of Co-Conveners.

Working Groups

For closer engagement of all members of the FPC, four thematic working groups (WGs) have been formed. The groups are to collaborate for creating knowledge, for informing policy formulation, implementation and monitoring, centering women's voices from the ground, and collectively undertake the necessary dissemination and advocacy to carry forward key policy recommendations with the State.

Solidarity Group

As an independent collective, FPC welcomes organizations and individuals who are currently not members to engage with us on the various thematic areas identified by the FPC working groups. We anticipate this engagement through various mechanisms:

  • Knowledge generation, co-creation and sharing;
  • Capacity development of stakeholders playing a role in advancing the agenda on gender transformative financing and policymaking;
  • Convening stakeholders to facilitate dialogues that are representative of the needs and demands of vulnerable and marginal groups and advocating for their rights; and
  • Policy engagement processes and collaborating on public policy processes to inform the design and implementation of policies and programmes at the national and sub-national level.

Please write to feministpolicy.india@gmail.com to know more about how FPC can work with you.

Support to FPC

Support for appointing a Coordinator has been provided by various member organisations at different times. The activities of FPC are carried out by pooling resources and voluntary time of the members.

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