About Book

Pakistan has been a priority country for international development assistance since the early years of its creation. Though Pakistan celebrates National Women’s Day on 12 February each year to commemorate the 1983 women’s march, three decades of war in neighbouring Afghanistan have stoked violent extremism and constrained development gains and gender equality. Canada led the first global efforts to support women’s rights and gender equality in the region. The Twelfth of February tells the story of the Canadian International Development Agency’s support for women’s organizations and civil society in Pakistan. Rhonda Gossen traces the ebbs and flows of financial aid, drawing on her own unique experience as a development worker as well as compelling interviews with activists, non-governmental organizations, officials, and diplomats. She assesses how women’s organizations work to resist violent extremism and makes the connection between gender inequality and security threats in a volatile region. Despite the influence of Islamic extremism, the gender equality movement in collaboration with civil society in Pakistan did make tangible headway. The Twelfth of February addresses a problem that is all too timely: given violent extremism’s devastating impact on development gains including women’s rights, security , and the elimination of gender-based violence, what is the future role for international development?

About Author

Rhonda Gossen is a Canadian humanitarian professional and former diplomat with extensive experience in international development and crisis response. She is currently a senior consultant with the UNDP Crisis Bureau, where she focuses on early recovery, forced displacement, resilience, and strategic planning. Gossen has worked in numerous humanitarian contexts, including the Rohingya crisis in Bangladesh, the Syrian refugee crisis in Lebanon, and in countries such as South Sudan, Nepal, Nigeria, and Afghanistan. She has also undertaken assignments with organizations like UNICEF, UNHCR, and the World Bank. Previously, she served as a Canadian diplomat in Asia and Africa, including postings in Pakistan, Ghana, and the Philippines. Beyond her operational roles, Gossen has been associated with academic and policy organizations, contributing to discussions on global development and security. She is also a member of the EBBF (Ethical Business Building the Future) network, emphasizing sustainable and ethical leadership practices in global humanitarian and development efforts. Her career highlights demonstrate a deep commitment to addressing complex humanitarian challenges and promoting innovative, locally led solutions to crises.