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“The important work of moving the world forward does not wait to be done by perfect men." This morning, I awoke in Kuala Lumpur for the first day of Women Deliver and found this quote along with an email: “May have seen this already, but this seemed kind of appropriate for Women Deliver. - Dad”

Can't join us for Women Deliver? You can still take part in the conference by watching live streams directly from the conference here. Join the conversation by letting us know what you think on Twitter and Facebook.

On April 22th I had the privilege to be part of the “Educate. Empower. Transform.” panel on the role of girls’ education in the developing world hosted by the Simmons School of Management Center for Gender in Organizations in conjunction with Simmons Institute for Leadership and Change.

Heran Abebe is a Senior Gender Advisor for Pathfinder’s Integrated Family Health Program (IFHP) in Ethiopia. In this Q&A Heran shares her thoughts on why gender is important in Ethiopia, how she was first drawn to gender work, and IFHP’s exciting gender initiatives on the horizon.

Recently, Pathfinder International released a new video Female Condoms Are…My Power, My Protection, My Pleasure as part of a film contest about female condoms. Winners of the international contest will be announced at Women Deliver 2013 this May in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Celia, a maternal and child health nurse in the Machava Area of Mozambique, knows what empowerment looks like. She sees it in the faces of the women she serves when she hands them a female condom.

The calendar is overflowing with occasions to mark. It seems like there's a special day for almost everything. For example, September 19 is celebrated by some as International Talk Like a Pirate Day. But the surplus of observances shouldn't detract from the really important ones, like Friday, March 8, International Women's Day.

It's no newsflash: women are daring to change the world. Nearly every day there are headlines, from Malala Yousafzai in Pakistan to Hillary Clinton in the US, detailing accomplishments from courageous women of all ages and backgrounds.

I can’t remember the last time I was this excited to read so many books—and I’m a pretty voracious reader. Just in time for Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day, here are three books about the state of the world’s women—two from international leaders and one from a US business executive. All showcase the importance of fighting for change.

Nafis Sadik has been called one of the most powerful women in the world. One of the greatest women’s advocates of the twentieth century, Nafis is an obstetrician, author, mother, and global thought leader who, for decades, has emphasized the importance of sexual and reproductive health and rights as a means to women’s empowerment.

Pathfinder Board Member Sharon Allison has been a lifelong reproductive health advocate. Dissatisfied with maintaining the status quo, Sharon has dared to lead. Lending her voice to issues of crucial importance like women’s rights and reproductive health, Sharon fights for an even playing field, not just for the women in her community, but for women worldwide.

Susan Akajo Oregede has dedicated the past several years of her life to changing gender norms in Uganda, daring to challenge resistance, tradition, and even her community’s leaders to address issues like women’s equality, gender-based violence, and adolescent sexuality.

Pinki Kumari’s life has not been without its challenges. Staying in school meant overcoming financial and societal barriers. She lost her husband at a young age and struggled to support herself because of cultural and religious restrictions that limit her mobility as a woman in India. Against all odds, Pinki not only dared to find her own voice, but found her passion in helping others find theirs.

The focus on development initiatives for women over the last few years has been inspiring, particularly in reproductive health, but Caroline Crosbie believes radical change is on the horizon in 2012.

When the US chooses politics over science, Pathfinder stands strong in support of adolescents' right to obtain emergency contraception.

Because of issues such as gender inequality and lack of funding, people around the world struggle to find adequate sexual and reproductive health care. Jaime-Alexis Fowler gives the top ten barriers to quality care in the developing world.

It took the world 200,000 years to reach 1 billion people. It's only taken us 207 years to reach 7 billion. This World Population Day, there are 7 billion reasons to care, and 7 billion reasons to take action

As was the case for Amina, many people in Kenya who are infected with HIV have experienced stigma and discrimination including prejudice, negative attitudes, abuse and maltreatment.

Pathfinder's Dali Al Eryani talks about meeting Lubna, a young girl in Yemen who was married at the age of 8.