ORGANIZATION
OUR HISTORY
The Good Shepherd International Foundation is a nonprofit value-based organization located in Rome (Italy) and founded by Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd (Good Shepherd sisters ), an international Congregation of women religious present in 68 countries, to support the Congregation’s programs in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East.
Originally established in 2007 as a Mission Development Office by the Good Shepherd sisters, it became incorporated as a Foundation in 2008.
The Good Shepherd sisters were founded in 1835 by St. Mary Euphrasia Pelletier in France. Today the Congregation has 3,000 members in 400 communities through the world. The Congregation is recognized by the UN as a NGO in consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) because of its important work on behalf of girls, women and children, especially those who live in poverty and are affected by violence, abuse and discrimination.
The Good Shepherd International Foundation works to implement a development and human rights based approach to support the Good Shepherd programs in low and middle-income countries and to remove the causes that generate poverty and injustice, promoting an inclusive and sustainable development for the most marginalized and vulnerable.
OUR VISION AND MISSION
VISION
We envision a world where girls, women and children, especially those deprived of their rights and dignity, can live their lives in full relationship with all.
MISSION
GSIF’s mission is to enable the Congregation’s programs in the most impoverished areas of the world, to promote a global culture of justice, facilitating capacity development, international fundraising and networking among mission partners.
THEORY OF CHANGE AND GSIF STRATEGIC PLAN 2023-2027
In 2022 GSIF has capitalized on results and evaluation of its 2017-2022 strategic planning and, learning from it, designed a new Theory of Change, imagining the future for the next 5 years together with its founding Congregation and its partners. The GSIF strategic plan planning focuses on four Horizons and long-term outcomes to articulate the emerging priorities for GSIF in the framework of the Congregation’s systemic vision for change.
THE NEW STRATEGIC PLAN 2017-2021
- informed through a broad process of consultation involving representatives from 73 countries;
- sets a clear goal and specific outcomes to deliver that change that will contribute to respond to most urgent needs of the people participating in Good Shepherd programs in Africa, Middle East, Asia and Latin America.
HOW WE WILL ACHIEVE CHANGE
We support and empower good Shepherd programmes across the world that work locally to deliver services and activities that tackle poverty, violence, gender based discrimination and violation of human rights in practical and innovative ways.
Adopting this approach means that the girls, women and children participating in Good Shepherd programs will develop their own equitable and long-lasting solutions as well as the confidence and skills to voice and claim their rights.
Reduce poverty and hunger and create decent work for all
Eliminate all forms of violence and discrimination against girls, women and children
Protect the rights of migrants and refugees, especially women to build inclusive society
CONTRIBUTING TO THE SDGs
We are committed to supporting the Good Shepherd programs that contribute to their national strategies achieving the SDGs. We focus our efforts on the following priority areas for sustainable development.
