Karen Takacs Award

Recognizing Feminist Advocacy and Collaborative Leadership in Global Cooperation

The Karen Takacs Award is presented by Cooperation Canada to an individual who has notably and consistently advocated for the rights of women, girls and gender-diverse people. The award honours outstanding collaborative leadership and commitment to gender equality.

About Karen Takacs

Karen Takacs was a celebrated and cherished leader of the Canadian international community. For over 20 years, Karen worked tirelessly to improve the lives and advance the rights of women and girls locally, nationally, and internationally. Karen was a catalyst for collaboration in the Canadian international sector.

Throughout her life, Karen was admired for motivating and bringing people together around a common cause. By way of encouragement, generosity, and humour, Karen led by mobilizing and supporting others. Following Karen’s passing in 2015, Cooperation Canada created an award to honour her invaluable contribution to the fight for social and economic justice, and to celebrate the unique collaborative leadership she demonstrated throughout her career, including her time as Chair of the Board of Cooperation Canada.

For the Canadian global development community, The Karen Takacs Award is a symbol of feminism, collaboration, advocacy, mentorship and resilience.

Nomination Process

Employees and volunteers of Cooperation Canada’s member organizations are invited to nominate individuals for this award.

Criteria for Selection
In order to be considered for the award, a nominee must:

Identify as a feminist

Be peer-nominated

Be Canadian or residing in Canada

Be a leader contributing to shifting power and finding new ways of working collaboratively with an intersectional lens, particularly in the current context of deepening inequity.
Expectations for Award Winner
Attendance, either in person or by video, at Cooperation Canada’s International Development Week event

Serve on The Karen Takacs Award committee for 1 year, following the receipt of the award

The winner will be invited to host a leadership relevant workshop within the year the award is presented
Nomination Procedures
Nominations are received through completion of a form, with options for written or audio/visual submissions. The committee will review nominations that include:

Two nominators (peers)

The nominee’s short biography

Detailed examples and quotes demonstrating the nominee’s advocacy for gender equality and collaborative leadership. Nomination packages should give examples of the following:

Evidence of the nominee’s contributions to feminist advocacy for women, girls, and gender-diverse people

Evidence of how the nominee has made a difference by working collaboratively

Evidence of how the nominee has challenged power structures to combat inequity and protect civic space

Evidence of how the nominee has influenced or inspired peers and movements

Nominations may also include links to websites, articles, or other documentation that illustrate the nominee’s advocacy work and its impact—including testimonials from those benefiting from or witnessing the activism.