Gender in humanitarian programmes

Why does gender matter in a crisis?

The IASC Gender Handbook for Humanitarian Action (2018) says leaders should understand that crises can exacerbate existing gender inequalities, and that women, girls, boys and men have different needs, risks and capacities before, during and after an emergency. These differences must be taken into account, and women and girls should take part in planning, decision-making and programming.

The handbook is a concise guide on how to consider the experiences and priorities of women, girls, boys and men, in all their diversity, throughout the programme cycle: assessment, planning, resource mobilisation, implementation and monitoring. It has three parts: why gender matters, how to integrate gender into the programme cycle, and gender equality in each sector.

What does gender-responsive programming involve?

The UN Women summary of the handbook gives three main aims:

• identify the specific needs, capacities and priorities of women, girls, men and boys, so assistance targets the people most in need;
• inform them of their entitlements and engage their participation, including women's leadership in programme design;
• monitor the impact of programmes on those assisted, and identify and dismantle barriers and discrimination.

In practice, gender-responsive work means not assuming that a household is a single unit or that everyone has the same access to information, markets or services.

How do I include gender in each project phase?

Use this five-step routine.

1. Analyse. Write a short gender analysis: who does what, who decides, who faces which risks, and who can reach services. Use existing data and talk to women and men separately.
2. Count differently. Collect and analyse data disaggregated by sex and age. See our guide on disaggregated data.
3. Involve. Ask women, girls, men and boys of different ages to take part in design and review, and record how their suggestions changed the project.
4. Adapt. Tailor activities, timing, locations and messages to different needs and barriers.
5. Check. Monitor who gets what, who is satisfied, and what harm or barriers appear, then change the project.

What is the IASC Gender with Age Marker?

The IASC Gender with Age Marker (GAM) is based on twelve Gender Equality Measures. According to the summary on ReliefWeb, the design phase codes four key measures, and the other eight supporting measures appear in the monitoring phase to help teams reflect on what works. The measures cover points such as:

You can use these as a quick self-check even if your donor does not ask for a marker score.

Which practical risks should teams watch?

Gender risks often hide in small details:

• Location and time: a distribution point far from home, or open late in the day, can expose women and girls to danger.
• Information: if messages reach only men, women may not know their entitlements.
• Facilities: shared latrines and shelters without privacy or lighting can create risks.
• Staff: if all staff at a site are men, some women may not speak openly. Include women staff and volunteers in field teams.
• Cash and household control: in cash programmes, unequal control over resources can cause tension. Ask who receives and who decides, and monitor.

Our article on protection mainstreaming shows how these checks connect with safety, access and accountability.

How do I handle complaints and sensitive disclosures?

The Gender with Age Marker asks for a confidential complaints process that considers gender and age and leads to changes in services. Provide at least one channel run by women staff or volunteers, and train all staff on referral for gender-based violence. Know where survivors can get medical and psychosocial help before you start. Never ask for details or promise confidentiality you cannot keep.

Working in Myanmar's context

Programmes in Myanmar work across many communities, languages and norms. Do not assume what women or men want. Ask, in Burmese and in local languages, using women facilitators for women's groups. Where access is restricted and you work remotely, train local volunteers to collect gender-aware data and agree a safe way to share it.

How EMPO can help

EMPO is a reliable, Myanmar-based training and consultancy provider and one of the country's leading names in practical NGO training, with 1,200+ people trained and 15 partner organisations. Gender Equality is one of our training topics, delivered online over Zoom or in person across Myanmar, in English and Burmese. See our services or contact us.

Sources

• IASC Gender Handbook for Humanitarian Action, 2018 — IASC, 2018
• The gender handbook for humanitarian action — UN Women
• Gender Equality Measures summary (IASC Gender with Age Marker) — IASC GenCap, 2018