Strengthening Capacity to Coordinate Responses to Gender-Based Violence in the Middle East

June 2019 – Humanitarian needs stemming from the crises in Syria and Iraq remain significant throughout the Middle East. Continued violence in Syria raises little prospects for the voluntary safe sustainable and dignified return of over 5.6 million refugees in the region. Internally displaced persons range in the millions in Syria and Iraq and refugees facing protracted displacement in host countries continue to face acute humanitarian needs in Jordan and Lebanon. With GAC’s support the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) supports the coordination of humanitarian responses to sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and sexual and reproductive health (SRH) across the Middle East namely in Iraq Jordan Lebanon and Syria. Project activities include: (1) improving informing and implementing cluster SGBV and SRH services and strategies; (2) monitoring and evaluating the performance of the GBV and SRH responses including producing informational and analytical products; and (3) building the capacity of frontline local and national SGBV-response and SRH actors to provide quality SGBV and SRH responses.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) strengthened leadership and coordination of the SGBV and SRH responses; (2) improved monitoring planning and reporting on SGBV and SRH responses; and (3) increased capacity of humanitarian actors to provide quality SGBV response and SRH services in emergencies. The expected ultimate outcome is lives saved suffering alleviated and human dignity maintained in countries experiencing humanitarian crises or acute food insecurity.