Vector halftone smoke effect. ©Kundra/ Shutterstock ID: 749707636
Welcome to the ALIGN platform

Advancing Learning & Innovation on Gender Norms (ALIGN)

ALIGN leads research and knowledge sharing on gender and social norms. We explore key drivers of transformative change, building insight from our own research and our ever-expanding community of practice.

About ALIGN

ALIGN guide

8 September 2026

ALIGN Guide: Gender norms and education
Authors: Rachel Marcus, Evie Browne, Ján Michalko

Published by: ALIGN

A kindergarten with children and teacher reading a story © PeopleImages | Shutterstock ID: 2472680051

Briefing paper

21 September 2026

The Taliban’s madrassa system in Afghanistan: the threat to global peace and security
Authors: Ayesha Khan, Mariam Safi

Published by: ODI Global

Cover of brief

Report

23 September 2026

How LGBTQI+ movements shape inclusive civic space in Pakistan
Authors: Ayesha Khan, Sarah Zaman, Ghausia Rashid Salam, Evie Browne

Published by: ODI Global, ALIGN, Global Philanthropy Project

Cover of report

Briefing paper

23 September 2026

Resourcing LGBTQI+ movements in the Global South and East to build inclusive civic space
Authors: Evie Browne, Carmen Leon-Himmelstine, Ayesha Khan

Published by: ODI Global, ALIGN, Global Philanthropy Project

Cover of brief

Blog

17 September 2026

Online violence against women in public life threatens democracy
Author: Ján Michalko

Published by: The Loop

Screenshot of article

Blog

4 September 2026

Online gender-based violence is on the rise. Here’s why democracy funders should care
Authors: Mariam Gagoshashvili, Caroline Harper

Published by: Inside Philanthropy

Article screenshot
View all latest resources

Spotlight: Backlash

Briefing paper

10 July 2023

Facing the backlash: what is fuelling anti-feminist and anti-democratic forces?
Authors: Ayesha Khan, Emilie Tant, Caroline Harper

Published by: ALIGN

Facing the backlash image
Report
How women's movements lead demands for democracy in the face of backlash and politicised religion
Authors: Ayesha Khan, Sam Sharp
Report
Whose hands on our education? Identifying and countering gender-restrictive backlash
Authors: Sophia M. D’Angelo, Rachel Marcus, Ayesha Khan, Olha Homonchuk
Briefing paper
Feminist responses to ‘norm-spoiling’ at the United Nations
Author: Rebecca Holmes
View all backlash resources
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Join the ALIGN community

ALIGN thrives on collaborating with other specialists in the field of gender norms and we invite you to be a part of that. There are many ways you can collaborate and join our community of practice, click to find out more.

Collaborate with ALIGN

Themes

Aurat march at Frere Hall Karachi, Pakistan, on International women's Day 2021. © Aqib Yasin | Shutterstock ID: 1931666027
Backlash
A young women's hand with henna tattoos and a diamond ring. ©infinity21/shutterstock
Child marriage
A young woman engineer checking solar panel at solar power plant © Monthira | Shutterstock ID: 786784237
Economic empowerment
At student writing on a board. © Sarah Farhat / World Bank ID: 20170317-Tanzania-Farhat-8282
Education
#NiUnaMenos Placard with eye and tear drop painting
Gender-based violence
Women in Indonesia leading the COVID-19 Prevention Response. © UN Women/Putra Djohan and Ali Lutfi
Health
Gay Pride celebration and parade in Durban City, South Africa © Timothy Hodgkinson | Shutterstock ID: 665899426
LGBTQI+
A close-up of a phone screen with the Twitter logo on it ©i_am_zews | Shutterstock ID:2071249703
Media: social and broadcast
Two men sitting on the grass with backs to camera
Men, boys and masculinities
Discussing local governance at a Rwanda community village meeting. © Subhrajit123/ Stock Photo ID: 2011588205
Political norms
A feminist march in Mexico city. ©clicksdemexico | Shutterstock ID: 1933279691
Social movements

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