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On the 29-30 May 2014 a group of feminist scholars, activists, and media and communications professionals met at the Institute of Development Studies at the University of Sussex to celebrate and interrogate learning from the Pathways of Women’s Empowerment Consortium (Pathways). This was an opportunity to look at the trajectory that the consortium had taken since its early days in 2005, consider how Pathways research could shape the post-2015 development agenda, and strategise about future directions in work on women’s empowerment. …

This pack contains relevant background and current information on the post-2015 discussions about gender. You may wish to read the documents in preparation for our discussions at the conference. You will find a list of the readings contained in the pack along with short summaries to assist you with navigating through the information.  Hyperlinks to the documents have been provided where possible in the summary text. …

The language of ‘gender equality’ and ‘women’s empowerment’ was mobilised by feminists in the 1980s and 1990s as a way of getting women’s rights onto the international development agenda. Their efforts can be declared a resounding success. The international development industry has fully embraced these terms. From international NGOs to donor governments to multilateral agencies the language of gender equality and women’s empowerment is a pervasive presence and takes pride of place among their major development priorities. …

The Beyond 2015: Pathways to a Gender Just World conference held from 29-30 May 2014 celebrated and interrogated learning from the Pathways of Women's Empowerment programme. The meeting provided an opportunity for a group of feminist scholars, activists, and media and communication professionals to look at the trajectory the programme had taken from its initiation in 2005, to look at how research from the programme could influence the post-2015 agenda and to strategise on future directions for work on women's empowerment. …

To mark the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Beijing Platform for Action and in association with UN Women, the Pathways of Women’s Empowerment programme are planning a special issue of the IDS Bulletin. Drawing together leading international feminist scholars, advocates and practitioners, the special issue aims to reflect on progress since Beijing and create a space for reflections from people of all genders from different generations on their ideas of possible feminist futures. …