One Day’s Wages Named Together Women Rise 2026 Featured Grantee for Maternal Health Work in Afghanistan

One Day’s Wages (ODW) is honored to announce its selection as the 2026 Featured Grantee of Together Women Rise, a powerful global community of women and allies committed to advancing gender equality.

This prestigious award includes a $50,000 grant over two years (2026–2028) to strengthen maternal health services and midwifery care in Afghanistan in partnership with Action for Development.

Together Women Rise mobilizes hundreds of local chapters across the United States to learn about gender equality issues, advocate for change, and fund high-impact initiatives led by and for women and girls in low-income communities across the Global South. Their investment in ODW reflects a shared commitment to ensuring women everywhere have access to safety, dignity, and the opportunity to flourish.

“We recognize the challenging global context—shrinking funding, conflict, and climate shocks. Your selection reflects the strength of your approach and the trust our community places in your leadership. We are very proud of the work you are doing through One Day’s Wages, and we want the women of Afghanistan to know they have not been forgotten, they are not to suffer in silence, and that together we will rise.” – Beverley Francis-Gibson, CEO of Together Women Rise

Addressing an Urgent Need

Afghanistan is one of the most dangerous places in the world to be pregnant. A 2023 UN study estimates that 85% of the population lives on less than one dollar a day, and restrictive gender policies since 2021 have deepened women’s vulnerability. Girls are barred from schooling beyond grade six, women are largely prohibited from working, and male doctors are prevented from treating female patients—making trained midwives essential to community health.

The result is a crisis in maternal health:

• Afghanistan recorded 638 maternal deaths per 100,000 births in 2021—one of the highest rates globally. 
• Doctors Without Borders reports that 88% of Afghans suspended or forewent healthcare in 2022.
• The UN estimates maternal death rates will increase by 50% in 2025 without urgent intervention.

Midwives are often the only health workers available to rural and low-income families. Strengthening their skills and expanding their reach is one of the most effective ways to save lives.

About the Project

In partnership with Action for Development, One Day’s Wages will advance a two-pronged maternal health intervention in Kabul:

Professional development for 160 trained midwives

Midwives will participate in a 10-day in-person training program designed to increase clinical knowledge and build confidence in managing pregnancy complications. Our target is a 50% increase in knowledge and confidence.

Operation of a new midwifery-led maternity clinic

Located in a low-income neighborhood of Kabul, the clinic will serve 2,200 pregnant women, offering essential prenatal, delivery, and postpartum care led by qualified midwives. Maternal and newborn outcomes will be tracked to measure progress over time.

Shared Commitment to Locally Led Solutions

One Day’s Wages (ODW) exists to alleviate extreme poverty by investing in, amplifying, and coming alongside locally led organizations in underserved communities. This partnership reflects ODW’s long-standing belief that lasting change begins with leaders rooted in their own communities.

“We are humbled and honored to be partnering with Together Women Rise. Their community emulates our shared commitment to gender equality by supporting initiatives that reach women and girls facing the greatest barriers. We are thrilled to be joining their community.” – Carissa Youssef, Executive Director, One Day’s Wages

About Together Women Rise

Together Women Rise is a powerful community of women and allies dedicated to global gender equality. With hundreds of local chapters across the U.S., members come together to learn about gender justice issues, advocate for systemic change, fund grants that empower women and girls in low-income communities in the Global South, and build meaningful connections with each other and with women around the world.

About One Day’s Wages

One Day’s Wages is a grassroots movement of people, stories, and collective acts of generosity working together to alleviate extreme poverty. ODW invests in and amplifies the work of locally led organizations in underserved communities around the world.

We are deeply grateful to Together Women Rise for their trust and partnership—and for standing with Afghan women at a moment when global attention is fading but the need has never been greater.