Since 1982, Women’s Aid Organisation is a leading NGO working on advocacy to end gender based violence, and to promote gender equality through research, policy and legal reform as well as shifting public mindsets.WAO’s work is guided by its service in providing free shelter, counselling, and crisis support to women and children who experience abuse. We help women and their children rebuild their lives, after surviving domestic violence, rape, trafficking, and other atrocities. Together, we change lives. For more information, visit wao.org.my.
Universiti Malaya (UM) was established in 1949, and is Malaysia’s oldest and highest-ranked public research university. Renowned for its academic excellence and vibrant research culture, UM offers a wide range of programs across disciplines such as medicine, engineering, law, business, and the humanities including Gender Studies. It consistently ranks as the top university in Malaysia and among the best in Asia, placing 65th in the QS World University Rankings 2024. With a strong emphasis on innovation, sustainability, and global collaboration, UM plays a pivotal role in producing the country’s leading professionals and advancing knowledge regionally and internationally.
The University of Alberta, located in Edmonton, Canada, is a top-tier public research university and a member of the U15 group of Canada’s leading research institutions. Known for its global research impact, the university attracts over $500 million in annual research funding and hosts more than 100 research institutes, including the renowned Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute (Amii). Its strengths span areas such as artificial intelligence, energy, environment, health, and social transformation. Within this research-rich environment, the Department of Women’s and Gender Studies offers an interdisciplinary program grounded in feminist, queer, and intersectional analysis, emphasizing social justice and real-world impact. This reflects the university’s broader commitment to innovation, critical inquiry, and societal change.
Talent Corporation Malaysia Berhad (TalentCorp) is a government agency under the Ministry of Human Resources, established to drive Malaysia’s talent strategy and enhance the nation’s workforce competitiveness. One of its key initiatives is the Career Comeback Programme (CCP), designed to support women who have taken career breaks of six months or more and wish to re-enter the workforce. TalentCorp also collaborates with state governments, such as Selangor, to implement outreach programmes like Wanita MyWira, aiming to provide grassroots engagement, skills development, and workforce reintegration support for women across various levels.
The Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH), is the central authority responsible for the country’s public healthcare system, health policy, and medical services. Since its establishment in 1963, MOH has played a critical role in improving population health through accessible, high-quality services and health promotion. Beyond service delivery, the ministry actively supports research and innovation through agencies like the Institute for Public Health and the Clinical Research Centre, which conduct epidemiological studies, clinical trials, and health systems research. MOH also leads initiatives in disease prevention, health education, and emergency response through the Crisis Preparedness and Response Centre (CPRC), ensuring Malaysia is equipped to manage public health challenges. This integrated approach reflects MOH’s commitment to evidence-based policy, healthcare innovation, and continuous improvement in population well-being.
We would also like to extend our sincere gratitude to:
Government partners:
Our trusting funders committed to Gender Equality:
This project is funded under Women’s health and economic empowerment for a COVID-19 Recovery that is Inclusive, Sustainable and Equitable (Women RISE), an initiative of IDRC, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council. Women RISE is a $24M initiative to address the gendered impacts of COVID-19 that is co-funded by Canada’s International Development Research Centre, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.
Special thanks to the African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC) and Yayasan Sime Darby for their support.
Stakeholders:
Civil Society Organisations, Individuals & Think Tanks
Thank you to the organisations who helped us along the way, in mobilising, coordinating and agreeing to participate in the research.
- Advocates For Non-Discrimination & Access To Knowledge (ANAK Sabah)
- Association for Residential Aged Care Operators of Malaysia (AgeCope)
- Amy Bala
- Association of Nationalist Overseas Filipino Workers in Malaysia (AMMPO)
- Beautiful Gates
- Indonesian Migrant Domestic Workers Association (PERTIMIG)
- Dr. Ling How Kee
- Edwin Goh
- Farah Nabilah Abdul Rahman
- Majlis Belia OKU Malaysia
- Malayan Nurses Union (MNU)
- Malaysian Association Social Work (MASW)
- Malaysian Nurses Association (MNA)
- Malaysian Research Institute on Ageing (MyAgeing)
- Maria Mendoza
- National Union of Workers in Hospital Support and Allied Services (NUWHSAS)
- Persatuan Pengasuhan dan Perkembangan Awal Kanak-Kanak Berdaftar Malaysia (PPBM)
- Persatuan Taska, Tadika dan Pusat Jagaan Selangor (PTPJS)
- Reproductive Health Association of Kelantan (ReHAK)
- SIUMAN
- Tenaganita
- Tengku Nur Fadzilah Tengku Hassan
We are also thankful to representatives of government agencies and international organisations who took the time to share their insights with us:
Government Agencies and Ministries
- Jabatan Perkhidmatan Awam (JPA)
- Employee’s Provident Fund (EPF)
- Jabatan Kebajikan Malaysia (JKM)
- Pertubuhan Keselamatan Social (SOCSO)
- Jabatan Kemajuan Masyarakat (KEMAS)
- Majlis Perkhidmatan Masyarakat Sabah (MPMS)
- Pertubuhan Keselamatan Sosial (PERKESO)
- Kementerian Sumber Manusia (KESUMA)
- Kementerian Pembangunan Wanita, Keluarga dan Masyarakat (KPWKM)
- Majlis Pembangunan Sosial Sarawak (MPSS)
- Jabatan Perdana Menteri Unit Penyelarasan Pelaksanaan (ICU JPM)
- Kementerian Ekonomi
International Organisations
- International Labour Organization (ILO)
- World Bank
- United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
Interested to collaborate?
