Global First Ladies Alliance

We’re honored and excited to see First Spouses featured in Elle Ukraine’s latest issue, where they spotlight conversations on their role in supporting children’s safety worldwide. The piece highlights the incredible work and dedication of First Ladies and Gentlemen who are driving change in their countries—showcasing their unique roles and contributions to enhancing the soft power of their state. We’re inspired by the work that our partner, @summit_flg has done to uplift the work of First Ladies and Partners. We’re proud to support First Spouses in their continued efforts towards enhancing the lives and futures of their populations, and are grateful to see their work and aspirations highlighted.

Today is a big day for America—and for our world. Yesterday, Ms. Magazine published an article, mentioning The Global First Ladies Alliance, about the possibility of a First Gentlemen. While the excitement around a female president is crucial, the introduction of a First Gentlemen could also challenge traditional gender norms. For too long, First Ladies have taken on roles that reflect societal expectations of women—serving as emotional backbones and household managers, all while shouldering significant invisible labor. If a First Gentleman were to embrace these responsibilities, it might prompt a national conversation about why these roles have been feminized and why such essential labor is often undervalued. We would be honored and excited to work with Mr. Emhoff as America’s first, First Gentlemen, and are wishing candidates in elections across the country the best of luck. Click the link in below for the full article. And if you can, and haven’t yet, GO VOTE!??? https://lnkd.in/gjjvxNqC

We at the Global First Ladies Alliance were honored to attend the High-Level Side Event of the Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen Global Platform, held on September 23, 2024, in New York. This pivotal gathering addressed the critical theme of “Securing the Future for Children: Addressing New Challenges for Soft Power,” underscoring our collective commitment to safeguarding the rights and well-being of the world’s youth. In the context of the Summit of the Future and the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, esteemed leaders from across nations convened to share insights, research, and personal narratives that illuminated the multifaceted threats children face today. The event, organised by the Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen Global Plaform, emphasized the urgent need for global partnerships to restore children’s rights and ensure their safety in an increasingly complex world. Key contributions from First Ladies and high-ranking representatives highlighted the critical importance of creating safe, inclusive environments conducive to learning and growth. With discussions revolving around pressing issues such as mental health, educational access, and the impacts of conflict, the collective voices called for immediate action and innovative solutions to protect our youngest citizens. This dialogue not only marked a significant step towards a brighter future for children but also reinforced our unwavering resolve to foster collaboration and compassion on a global scale. Together, we reaffirmed that defending our children today is essential for nurturing a secure tomorrow. We’re honored to continue our partnership with The Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen as we work towards supporting First Ladies and partners worldwide.

We woke up on Saturday to the most wonderful article in the New York Times, highlighting our critical work at the Global First Ladies Alliance, and the essential support needed for First Ladies worldwide. This recognition highlights not just our efforts, but the collective strength of First Ladies and our partners in advocating for transformative change that can ineffably alter the trajectory of lives and communities. We are profoundly grateful for the support and collaboration that fuels our mission, and for the opportunity to witness the impact First Ladies have on their communities. We are honored to continue this vital work and thank the New York Times for highlighting the power of First Ladies. To read the full article, please follow the link below. https://lnkd.in/gfqGQrvE

We were honored to host a high-level luncheon following OAFLAD’s Annual Meeting at the UNGA and facilitated by the Global First Ladies Academy. This event aimed to strengthen the capacity of First Ladies to support the global initiative for cervical cancer elimination, in line with the WHO’s Cervical Cancer Elimination Initiative. We look forward to collaborating with these leaders as they drive impactful change in health, education, and gender equality. #gfla #unga2024

We were honored to attend OAFLAD’s Annual Meeting, where African First Ladies launched their continent-wide #WeAreEqual campaign at the 79th United Nations General Assembly. This initiative seeks to enhance advocacy and collaboration in addressing critical issues affecting women and children across Africa, focusing on health, education, and gender equality. By fostering collaboration among governments, civil society, and the private sector, this initiative aims to create a supportive environment for women’s empowerment and children’s rights. The commitment demonstrated by these leaders is a testament to the transformative impact of collective action in advancing the well-being of vulnerable populations across the continent. We are inspired by the work of these First Ladies and look forward to continuing to support them as they work towards enhancing the lives of their populations.

On Sunday, we concluded our Senior Advisor Fellowship with our second day of programming. Senior Advisors had the opportunity to focus on engaging directly with the work in their offices. We started the day with a productive morning session focused on strategic planning and implementation. Participants worked through essential GFLA frameworks and goal implementation strategies, ensuring a clear vision and mission for their offices. We addressed everything from stakeholder management to success metrics, ensuring each office is equipped to tackle key priorities. After a quick break, we dove into Resource Mobilization, where First Ladies learned to unlock resources and create valuable partnerships without overextending their offices. We wrapped up with a working lunch focused on developing a sustainable Senior Advisor Fellowship Program, gathering feedback on the Global First Ladies Academy, and planning for the future! We are grateful for the continued opportunitity to support First Ladies and their teams, and look forward to sharing more on what lies ahead! #GlobalFirstLadiesAlliance #GFLA #Leadership #StrategicPlanning #ResourceMobilization #MakingAnImpact

?Day 2 of the Global First Ladies Alliance fellowship program for First Ladies' senior advisors!? This half-day session was all about practical work, with hands-on exercises in strategic planning, resource mobilization tools, and social media optimization. A great opportunity for experience-sharing ??and learning??! We’re thrilled to wrap up this highly successful program?? #Leadership #Training #GFLA

We were truly inspired by the powerful words of H.E. Mrs. Monica Geingos, Former First Lady of Namibia ???? and former President of #OAFLAD. In her heartfelt and motivating address to the senior and technical advisors, she reminded us all: Your work holds immense value, not only when the First Lady is in office, but long after her tenure has ended." We are deeply grateful for her presence and the wisdom she imparted ?? —— Nous avons été véritablement inspirés par les mots puissants de S.E. Mme Monica Geingos, ancienne Première Dame de Namibie @FirstLadyNam3 ???? et ancienne Présidente de l’#OPDAD. Dans son discours motivant aux conseillers principaux et techniques, elle nous a rappelé à tous : "Votre travail a une immense valeur, non seulement lorsque la Première Dame est en fonction, mais aussi longtemps après la fin de son mandat." Nous lui sommes profondément reconnaissants de sa présence et de la sagesse qu'elle nous a transmise?? #OAFLADinUNGA #GFLA Global First Ladies Alliance

Yesterday marked the first day of our Senior Advisor Fellowship, a multi-year mentored program that aims to strengthen Senior Advisors’ capacity to support the First Lady or Partner, and manage the Office. This year, we engaged in a Fellowship training in conjunction with our Global First Ladies Academy and are continuing this work alongside the U.N. General Assembly. Our program is delivered in partnership with leading experts from academia, government, the private and nonprofit sectors, and international and regional agencies, and engages in systematically supporting the offices of First Ladies and Partners through follow-up meetings throughout the year. Yesterday included a review of GFLA's Core Curriculum, as well as conversations on office assessment and management. Senior advisors were invited to discuss key challenges preventing teams from being successful as well as strategies to overcome them. We concluded the afternoon with Kristina Wilfore Director of Innovation and Global Projects at Reset and Co-Founder of #ShePersisted and Sarah Graham Research Operations Manager at NYU Center for Social Media and Politics, to discuss misinformation in the era of AI and social media. The consequences of misinformation, much of it fueled by AI, are staggering and include online harassment, erosion of the public’s confidence in government institutions, and social conflict, and with women in positions of power being disproportionately targeted on online platforms, understanding how to navigate this complex arena is vital for the wellbeing and success of the First Lady and her office. We are looking forward to continuing our great work today and bearing witness to its impact.