City for all Women Initiative/Initiative une ville pour toutes les femmes (CAWI)

Published purpose

Through this 33-month systemic change project, City for All Women Initiative (CAWI) will scale the Mamaawe: Women Reducing Poverty Together project to advance women’s economic security and prosperity. It will scale the project to the Canadian context, using Ottawa as a compelling case study, by adapting the project from one-off policy initiatives to the promotion of a comprehensive urban policy and planning tool: the Caring Cities model. It will address the need for gender inclusive urban planning that takes into consideration the care and work requirements of women, particularly those who are racialized. To do so, the project will 1) adopt and promote a comprehensive urban policy and planning tool: the Caring Cities model; 2) undertake Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) with grassroots women on care economy needs and urban design; 3) design and deliver a Caring Cities training course to policymakers and decision-makers; and 4) build a Caring Cities movement while tracking progress in municipal policy and urban planning. With the Supplemental funds and extension provided in early 2026, the City for All Women Initiative (CAWI) will address lessons learned and gaps identified in Phase 1 by 1) designing and delivering an Action Forum on Community Safety and holding solutions-focused neighbourhood labs to engage underrepresented communities in the movement building of Caring Cities model; 2) mobilizing community action on Phase 1 policy recommendations through art, storytelling and accessible media; and 3) incorporating lessons learned from Phase 1 beta testing to roll-out Caring Cities training course for municipal policymakers and decisionmakers. Through this they will further advance Gender Equality.