Women’s Climate Alliance
Women Connecting for Change
A shared purpose
Women bear the most responsibility for securing food and water and feeding their families, which is increasingly difficult due to a worsening climate crisis. At the same time, they face real barriers to education, livelihood opportunities, and having a voice in their communities.
Even as women do more with less, they are rarely centered as the leaders who can bring change to their communities.
The need is clear, but the path forward is uncharted. Mercy Corps’ Women’s Climate Alliance raises funds to position women at the forefront of climate resilience efforts and into leadership roles within their communities.
Who We Are
Mercy Corps’ Women’s Climate Alliance is a collection of women working together to raise awareness and funding for Mercy Corps’ Women & Climate Fund. As a division of Mercy Corps, our alliance unites diverse female philanthropists, fostering a global network committed to investing in women-led climate solutions and advancing collective learning, collaboration, and hands-on engagement as a giving community.
We are creating a culture of engagement where female philanthropists don’t just give–they can learn, grow, connect, and invest in philanthropic causes that support the WCA’s mission.
Our Impact
The Women’s Climate Alliance pools donations and members’ investments in the Women & Climate Fund, providing flexible dollars for Mercy Corps to invest in urgent, innovative and strategic programmes centreing women in climate adaptation work.
Recent Investments
Building Resilience and Safety for Iraqi Women
As the fifth most climate-vulnerable country worldwide, Iraq is experiencing devastating adverse impacts on agriculture. And while the challenges in agricultural livelihoods impact the wider community, women feel its deepest repercussions. In this context of extreme gender disparity, women face disproportionate barriers in accessing resources and opportunities. Mercy Corps’ WAVES programme will enable women in agriculture to access gender inclusive spaces that facilitate market connections, expand networks, and share learnings in Community Market Hubs. These Iraqi women will increase their climate-resilient agricultural production through training, mentorship, and a partnership with Iraqi universities. In addition, these women will develop business plans and receive grants to implement and grow innovative agribusiness solutions.
A Solar Solution for Female Farmers in Senegal and Benin
The POSSIBLE programme increases resilience and improves economic opportunities for smallholder women farmers through the use of renewable energy technologies that increase productivity in an environmentally-conscious way. The holistic programme promotes the uptake of technologies such as solar irrigation and solar milling, mentors and trains women in their usage as well as in financial literacy, develops appropriate credit models with lenders to improve access to finance for energy products, and establishes equitable commercial relationships between farmers, distributors, and buyers of the technology to ensure access and repair for products.
Let’s unite
Together, we will mobilise $50 million for women-led climate programming, positioning them as leaders in climate adaptation. Mercy Corps’ climate experts direct funds raised through the Women and Climate Fund to programmes supporting women in climate adaptation.
The funds allow our team to pilot innovative approaches and, with demonstrable impact, scale rapidly through follow-on funding.
Members’ Commitment
Meetings
Our members commit to attending quarterly virtual meetings and joining a committee to develop and execute fundraising strategies, strategic communications and in-person retreats and field visits.
In October 2023, our group traveled to Senegal to learn more about how women are using innovative technology to lead the fight against climate change in their communities. Read more about our visit and reflections here.
Learning
As a committed alliance of women, our investment goes beyond basic humanitarian updates. We engage in deeper discussions about Mercy Corps’ programmes and support through an ongoing learning series with global female leaders, exploring critical humanitarian and gender issues.
Fundraising
The WCA pools donations and members’ investments specifically in the Women and Climate Fund, providing flexible dollars for Mercy Corps to invest in urgent, innovative and strategic programmes centreing women in climate adaptation work. While we ask each woman to make a gift of personal significance to the Women & Climate Fund, there is no giving threshold.
Member bios
Lyndi Liersemann
In Lyndi’s 10 years at Mercy Corps, she has worked closely with corporate partners, employee groups, and individual supporters. As Director of the Women’s Philanthropy Group, she is leading a passionate collective committed to leveraging influence and impact for women around the world.
Angee Barnett
Based in Kansas City, Angee is a communications strategist for Cisco's Sustainability Programme and takes a holistic approach to sustainability. Her volunteer work within Cisco, Mercy Corps and the Dallas Eviction Advocacy Centre aids the advancement of gender diversity and social justice.
Abhita Batra
Abhita is a visionary entrepreneur, advisor, and investor in several healthcare and technology startups. Based in San Francisco, California, USA, Abhita has been featured in Forbes India, The Influential, The Statesman, America’s Women Magazine, and multiple media outlets.
Pat Callahan
Pat graduated from MIT with degrees in mechanical engineering and management. She worked in banking for 38 years, serving in various roles, and retired in 2015. She has served as a member of the Corporation (Board) of MIT since 2013 and is now a life member.
Amanda Calnan Vowels
Amanda is a journalist, communication consultant, and brand storyteller based in Central Oregon. A former newsroom reporter, she now advises CEOs and founders. She’s led public education and fundraising and worked as the American Red Cross Blood Services Communications Director.
Emily Deschanel
Based in Los Angeles, California, USA, Emily is perhaps best known for her 12-year run as Dr. Temperance Brennan on the Fox crime series, Bones. Other television credits include Animal Kingdom, Drunk History, and The Rookie.
Saira Ismail
Saira is a board-certified family physician from Hudson, Ohio, USA, where she enjoyed her private practice for over 20 years. She is a graduate of a combined BS/MD programme from NEOMED and remains engaged through mentoring young medical professionals.
Cecily Joseph
Cecily is a nonprofit and advisory board member, lawyer, and sustainability executive based in the Bay Area. She currently serves as an Advisor at the Presidio Graduate School and is recognized as one of the Most Influential People in Business Ethics by the Ethisphere Institute.
Stephanie Moersfelder
Based in Bend, Oregon, USA, Stephanie has 20 years of experience in financial services firms, with roles from corporate strategy to advising on charitable giving. She previously worked for a global asset management firm investing in the transition to a sustainable economy.
Kate Moore
Kate has worked in brand identity, positioning and strategic planning for more than 20 years. Today, she works as a consultant for companies and customers to help brands communicate their equity and benefits. She is based outside of Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Linda Sanchez
In the impact investing space, Linda connects investor capital to those needing help with persistent social issues. She previously held roles at CapShift, NationSwell, and Camden Asset Management. Based in L.A., she serves as co-chair of 100 Women in Finance's Southern California Committee.
Alison Smart
Alison Smart is Executive Director of Probable Futures, convening leaders to develop climate change tools and resources. Based in Massachusetts, she is a Senior Fellow for Communications at Woodwell Climate Research Centre, and a member of the BMW Foundation’s Responsible Leaders Network.
Eleanor Streicker
Eleanor holds an MA in Sustainable International Development from Brandeis University. Based in Connecticut, USA, she is committed to advancing global mental health and women’s reproductive health programmes and serves as the executive director of the Streicker Foundation.
Lisa Valone
Based out of the Boston, USA, area, Lisa is a member of NEID and Women Moving Millions, and also serves on the US Board of MSI Reproductive Choices. She graduated from Pomona College and Harvard Business School.
Partners
Our corporate partners are an important part of bringing women to the forefront of the climate crisis and equipping them with tools to create systemic change.
About Mercy Corps
Mercy Corps is a global team of humanitarians working together on the front lines of crisis, disaster, poverty, and climate change to create a world where everyone can prosper. Beyond delivering aid to meet urgent needs, we develop long-term solutions to make lasting change possible.