IASC Reference Group on Gender and Humanitarian Action

Since December 2006, the IASC Reference Group on Gender and Humanitarian Action (Gender Reference Group/Gender RG/GRG) has supported the integration of gender equality and women’s empowerment in the humanitarian action system coordinated by the IASC.

The Gender Reference Group (Gender RG), which brings together representatives from UN Agencies, NGOs, Donors, Member States and NGO consortia, meets on a quarterly basis and its work is structured around an annual work plan. The Gender RG has the following main objectives for its work:

  1. Guidance on and Accountability to Gender Equality - Develop, test and roll out tools for use by the humanitarian community to integrate gender into policies and programming and create accountability mechanisms for monitoring compliance.
  2. Engagement and Knowledge Management - Provide the humanitarian community with timely and practical information to help meet its commitments to gender equality.
  3. Coordination and Leadership - Actively engage and coordinate with all bodies and structures of the IASC to ensure that they incorporate gender equality into relevant aspects of their work in a manner complementing efforts by counterparts.

As of May 2021, the Gender RG is co-chaired by OCHA and ActionAid, and its membership is composed of the following:

  • Core Members: OCHA, UNHCR, IMC, NRC, UNFPA, Oxfam, WRC, UN Women, UNICEF, CARE International, WFP, HIAS, ACF, World Vision, Action Aid, Plan International, Save the Children and IRC.
  • Associate Members: HelpAge, WHO, UNDP, Concern and Development Initiatives.

Following the widely welcomed development and IASC endorsement of its Gender in Humanitarian Action Handbook in  English, Arabic, French and Spanish, the now go to resource for GiHA integrated coordinated humanitarian action, the Reference Group have capitalised on its success in a range of ways:

  • Over 6,000 copies of handbook distributed to 82 different agencies in 46 different countries.
  • Development of comprehensive face-to-face and ToT training modules to support uptake of handbook.
  • Face to face training and ToT conducted with ECHO funds in 4 countries (Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Sierra Leone and Malawi) to over 100 individuals in 42 different agencies. 
  • Follow up additional trainings conducted using the developed training modules in Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Cameroon, and Nigeria to over 200 individuals.
  • Same training provided to UN Women’s Rapid Deployment Roster and UNW’s ECA, AS and WCA ROs
  • Elearning platform developed and hosted by UNW’s SD Learning Centre Gender Equality in Humanitarian Action eLearning – to date accessed by 250 individuals.

The main internet platform of the Gender RG can be found here. This platform provides up-to-date information on the work of the GRG and relevant resources related to gender in humanitarian action. For further information please contact the GRG Secretariat: grg.secretariat@unwomen.org

 

TRAININGS
Different Needs - Equal Opportunities - English and French

The free online IASC course is available here in French and English.

A thumbnail of a flier for the training 'Different Needs - Equal Opportunities' which reads 'Take a free, online course on gender and humanitarian action today'.This self-directed e-course provides the basic steps a humanitarian worker must take to ensure gender equality in programming. The course includes information on the core issues of gender and how it relates to other aspects of humanitarian response, including camp management and coordination, education, food issues, gender-based violence, health, livelihoods, non-food items, protection, shelter, water, sanitation, and hygiene. Participants respond to a hypothetical, virtual disaster, solve real-life problems, and learn why gender should be a priority in humanitarian action in the self-paced, interactive course.

What is the purpose of the course?

The 3-5 hour course provides practical approaches on how to ensure that the needs of women, girls, boys and men are being met in humanitarian situations, as well as ensuring their full participation in all aspects of humanitarian programming.

Who should I contact for further information?

Please contact:  grg.secretariat@unwomen.org for more information.
 

IASC E-Learning on Gender Equality in Humanitarian Action

This training provides introductory guidance – through information and practical examples – on the fundamentals of applying a gender-equality approach across all stages of the humanitarian programming cycle.

Based on the content of the IASC’s 2017 Gender Handbook for Humanitarian Action, it is intended for all humanitarian staff from UN, NGOs, government and civil society looking for an introduction on how to integrate gender equality, and the empowerment of women and girls in the assessment, planning, implementation and monitoring of humanitarian programming.

Modules:

  • 1. Introduction to gender equality in humanitarian action

       Moduless 2-6: How to integrate gender equality into the Humanitarian Programme Cycle

  • 2. Needs assessment and analysis
  • 3. Strategic Planning
  • 4. Resource Mobilization
  • 5. Implementation and monitoring
  • 6. Operational peer review and evaluation'

Past meetings