Our Founder & CEO looks back at 2020 for Women in Foreign Policy

In the dumpster fire of 2020, Women in Foreign Policy and its amazing volunteers have been a beacon. We’re currently a team of 24 serving you across seven different functions. That our volunteers managed to publish a steady stream of career content, iterating plans to take into account the fast-developing uncertainty of the pandemic job market, is a testimony to their skills, resilience and commitment to supporting our community. 

I have seen first hand the impact of COVID-19 on Gen Z as we have had more offers for volunteering than ever. The optimistic view is that it’s a testament to the strength of the WIFP organisation and its reputation, and I’m sure this is at least partly true. However, I am also concerned as to what it means for an entire generation hurt by the pandemic as they finish their degrees and join a shaky job market. 

In response to the pandemic, our newsletter added a dedicated section, The Zig Zag has been sharing resources and How-Tos written by and for those most affected and our podcast produced three episodes on coping with coronavirus, personally and professionally. The Interviews section has focused on womxn who have “health” as part of their job descriptions, featuring professionals from the WHO, Lancet and Public Health England. 

Last weekend, we held a team meeting to look back at our 2020 achievements, areas for improvement and to plan ahead for 2021. Despite the positive vaccine news, next year still feels very tentative and uncertain. Herd immunity or not, the emotional, physical, societal and economical consequences of having lived through a pandemic are going to be felt for months to come. Our upcoming events calendar is being planned based on the assumption that we will still be mostly meeting online - we miss meeting with you in person, but we also love how this has allowed people in countries we didn’t reach before such as Kenya, Romania and India to join our events.  

In 2021, we are renewing our commitment to featuring the experience of womxn underrepresented and/or historically marginalised both in our organisation and in the sector at large. In July, we published our first Race and Ethnicity data breakdown as part of our Anti-racism and D&I Plan - it highlighted the inclusivity imbalance in some of our verticals and content, especially our oldest one, Interviews. We also signed the Women of Colour Advancing Peace and Security European Statement of Solidarity and its 12 anti-racism commitments. We are now looking for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officers to help drive our plan forward. 

As always, we are committed to providing you with the advice, support and access you need to develop and succeed in your career in foreign policy at large. Please do hit reply and let us know what you’d like us to do differently,  what you’d like to hear more of, or highlight what already works for you. As volunteers, knowing how our work fulfils its mission is a key currency and one of the things that keeps us going. 

Joined by our team, I wish you a lovely end to 2020 and may 2021 be filled with all that matters to you and makes you happy. 

Lucie