IASC Gender Accountability Framework (GAF) Report for 2024-2028

In January 2024, the IASC endorsed the updated 2024-28 Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) Policy on Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women and Girls (GEEWG) in Humanitarian Act ion. The policy is the key guiding document for collective action and shared accountability towards gender equality in humanitarian action. The policy promotes a people-centered, feminist and intersectional vision of equality and inclusion; one that is transformative, inclusive and uncompromising towards achieving the goals of GEEWG in the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of coordinated humanitarian response. It is also a practical tool to help actors achieve their commitments. The aim is to set out the IASC’s commitment and obligation to gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls (GEEWG) in humanitarian action, through collective action and shared accountability. 

The core principles outlined in the policy are foundational to the priority areas and the roles and responsibilities of the IASC and its structures comprise the “how” to advance on the Priority Areas. The “Roles and Responsibilities” section of the policy captures in a non-exhaustive list the actions for different stakeholders based on existing policies, guidelines, and best practice, and pulls these actions into one place. 

The updated gender accountability framework (GAF) is based on a set of indicators designed to measure the compliance by the IASC at all levels with the standards, commitments and designated roles and responsibilities. The framework will be utilized to create a published monitoring report for use at the global and national levels to ascertain compliance and to facilitate the creation of recommendations to improve results in subsequent monitoring cycles. 

This Accountability Framework seeks to minimize the burden of data collection on IASC Bodies and Members and Standing Invitees. It also does not duplicate data collection from other reporting systems but draws on existing data where applicable. The existing monitoring and reporting desk (‘Gender Desk’) will work with IASC Bodies in collecting the necessary data at the global level and at the country level, with Gender in Humanitarian Action Working Groups and clusters. 

Progress against the priority areas will be made publicly available through a global dashboard that tracks the global and country-level implementation against this accountability framework. Moving towards a localized approach, there will be country-specific focus pages presenting key areas of progress and challenges enabling better use of the recommendations and findings to strengthen efforts in context specific ways. 

The IASC Principals have the overall responsibility to lead and be accountable for the implementation of the IASC Gender Policy in all aspects of the IASC’s work. 

After five years a review of the policy will take place in order to assess its continued relevance in the light of ongoing accountability framework monitoring, any IASC restructuring, and/or any other developments in the humanitarian system.