Support to Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund - Emergency Response to COVID-19

This project works to provide funding to local CSOs in fragile and conflict-affected states who are actively engaged in delivering key resources and services to address the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. COVID-19 outbreaks have had significant negative impacts in many countries. These impacts have been amplified in fragile and conflict-affected contexts where conflict drivers are further exacerbated. Local CSOs around the world are playing key roles in supporting efforts to respond to and stem the spread of COVID-19. Project activities include: (1) persuading populations to follow public health directives; (2) advocating for specific needs for women and girls in response to COVID-19; and (3) supporting women who constitute 70% of the workers and care givers in the health and social sector globally and are on the frontlines of the response.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) strengthened leadership and meaningful participation of women and girls in all decision-making processes in addressing the COVID-19 outbreak; (2) mobilized women’s organizations at community level to ensure that public health education messages on risk and prevention strategies are reaching all women; (3) supported women who are most economically affected by the crisis; (4) strengthened access to sexual and reproductive health services including pre-and post-natal care; and (5) supported prevention and response to gender-based violence including through safe shelters but also campaigns on social norms targeting male engagement in domestic work and combatting domestic violence.