About WEC

Women’s Economic Council was founded in 2002 to advance women-centred community economic development to improve the lives of women, their families and communities.

We are a nationally incorporated, not-for-profit charitable organization of women–centred community economic development organizations and practitioners.

Community Economic Development

Community Economic Development (CED) is local economic development that is focused on people, employment, self-employment, inclusion and sustainability. Its goal is to provide meaningful work for all, at a level of income that provides a secure livelihood, in jobs that are environmentally, socially and economically sustainable.

Women-centred CED adapts the framework to accomplish changes for women.  It starts with women’s lives and challenges deeper and more systemic elements of economic and social inequality, working with women at the grassroots level and building a foundation to increase women’s economic security and independence.

Response to the experience of women working in the Community Economic Development (CED) sector

The Council:

Strengthens the women-centred CED sector and organizations through information-sharing and technical assistance;

Helps to provide a national voice for women-centred CED to increase awareness of the effectiveness of holistic, women-centred CED;

Raises public awareness about policy changes necessary to support women’s economic security;

Researches and documents issues, trends and outcomes of the diversity and spectrum of women-centred CED.

Vision

Economic security for every woman.

Mission

Advancing women’s community economic development to improve the lives of women, their families and communities.

Our Values

  • Women-Centredness: We operate from a perspective of women’s lived realities and use gender-based impact analysis as a way to ensure that our work addresses this reality.
  • Community: We support a grassroots, community-based approach to community economic development.
  • Sustainability: We believe in the sustainable livelihoods model that builds on individual, organizational and community assets for social and economic change.
  • Diversity and Inclusiveness: We believe that working for all women means respecting women’s diverse lived realities and valuing the unique contributions diverse women bring to our work.
  • Respect: We respect and recognize the experience and expertise that women and women’s organizations bring to their CED work and to their communities.
  • Courage: We have the courage to make systemic change for women’s lives and work.
  • Advocacy: We believe that to truly change women’s lives for the better we must operate at two levels: directly supporting women and working to change public policy that disadvantages women and prevents equality.
  • Transparency and Accountability: We are open and follow through on commitments we make to women, to communities and to funders.