What Works in Male Allyship Programs?

In 2026, we are witnessing, in real time, alarming backslides on women’s rights the world over. The workplace is not immune, and employers that introduce initiatives to diversify their workforce, create a more equal playing field for employees, and promote inclusiveness by attending to visible and invisible forms of discrimination may find themselves facing skepticism and hostility for their efforts.

In the face of a backslide, this report calls on leaders to hold the line.

As a place where people spend a great deal of their time and energy, a workplace is a critical arena and can affect all facets of a person’s life. When a person is included, rewarded, and feeling seen at work, workplaces can be transformed: Social cohesion and collaboration go up, and so does productivity. But this only happens when leaders like you have fully bought in.

What could a solidarity agenda look like, where men are part of the change, rather than on the outside? What are some practical ways to encourage men’s engagement as part of a wider effort to promote a more diverse and innovative workplace? In this report, co-authored with Gender At Work, we offer some suggestions, drawing on new data from those working to promote men’s solidarity for gender equality in workplaces from all corners of the world.