Advancing Gender Equality in Humanitarian Contexts

The project seeks to address gender inequality and the prevention and response to gender-based violence in responses to humanitarian crisis throughout the world through three objectives: (1) advance gender equality in humanitarian response programming; (2) support Canada’s leadership role on the Call to Action on Protection from Gender-Based Violence in Emergencies a multi-stakeholder initiative that works to transform the way gender-based violence is addressed in humanitarian emergencies; and (3) protect and empower displaced adolescent girls. Project activities include: (1) developing a gender analysis tool and position paper to promote a more progressive understanding of gender diversity and gender equality in humanitarian settings; (2) developing gender equality indicators; (3) convening thought-leaders experts and stakeholders from humanitarian development human rights academia and the private sector; (4) documenting good practices on successfully integrating gender equality practices throughout project cycles; (5) providing technical assistance to key international and local actors to strengthen gender equality into their programs; (6) analyzing the current Call to Action Road Map to shape the next phase of the initiative; (7) developing a comprehensive strategy on Call to Action implementation at country level with a focus on strengthening engagement of national and women’s organizations; (8) conducting research on how conflict and displacement impact child marriage; and (9) piloting family strengthening and violence prevention with sibling interventions.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) improved gender-based analysis and programming during humanitarian responses that take into account intersectionality; (2) gender equality institutionalized across all aspects of a humanitarian response; (3) priority concerns and gaps addressed among Call to Action partners at the annual Call to Action partner meeting; (4) strengthened country-level implementation of Call to Action; (5) increased engagement of local and women’s organizations within Call to Action; (6) next version of the Call to Action Road Map launched in 2020; (7) strengthened evidence base for girl-centered programming; (8) reduced incidence of child marriage in humanitarian settings; and (8) increased number of adolescent girls targeted and impacted by humanitarian programming.