Introduction

Humanitarian crises, from natural disasters to armed conflicts, are never gender-neutral. Pre-existing gender inequalities are often exacerbated in emergencies, leading to distinct and often disproportionate impacts on women, girls, men, and boys. Women and girls, in particular, face heightened risks of gender-based violence (GBV), limited access to life-saving services, and exclusion from decision-making, while men and boys may experience specific vulnerabilities related to conflict and traditional gender roles. An effective and ethical humanitarian response must therefore adopt a gender-transformative approach, ensuring that interventions not only address immediate needs but also challenge discriminatory norms and empower affected populations to build more equitable and resilient futures. This essential training course focuses on Gender and Humanitarian Action, equipping participants to deliver inclusive and impactful aid.

This intensive training course is meticulously designed to equip humanitarian practitioners, policymakers, donors, and civil society actors with the theoretical understanding and practical tools necessary to integrate a gender perspective across all stages of the humanitarian program cycle. Participants will gain a deep understanding of the gendered impacts of crises, the critical importance of gender analysis in emergencies, and strategies for designing gender-sensitive and gender-transformative humanitarian interventions. The course will delve into topics such as gender-based violence prevention and response, women's leadership in emergencies, inclusive data collection, and accountability to affected populations. By mastering the principles and methodologies of Gender and Humanitarian Action, participants will be empowered to contribute to more effective, equitable, and dignified humanitarian responses that truly leave no one behind.

Duration: 5 Days

Target Audience

• Humanitarian Aid Workers (all sectors)
• Emergency Response Coordinators
• Program Managers in Humanitarian Organizations
• Gender Advisors and Focal Points in NGOs and UN agencies
• Protection Specialists
• Camp Management Staff
• Public Health in Emergencies Professionals
• Civil Society Organizations in Conflict-Affected Areas
• Donors and Funding Officers
• Government Officials involved in Disaster Response

Course Objectives

• Understand the gendered impacts of humanitarian crises on diverse populations.
• Comprehend the international frameworks and standards for gender in humanitarian action.
• Learn to conduct a rapid gender analysis in emergency contexts.
• Develop skills in integrating gender considerations across all humanitarian sectors.
• Acquire strategies for preventing and responding to gender-based violence (GBV) in emergencies.
• Explore approaches to promote women's leadership and participation in humanitarian response.
• Understand the importance of sex and age disaggregated data (SADD) and intersectional analysis.
• Identify challenges and best practices in accountability to affected populations with a gender lens.
• Examine case studies and real-world examples of gender-responsive humanitarian action.
• Develop a practical action plan for integrating gender into their humanitarian work.
• Enhance advocacy skills for gender-just humanitarian principles.

Course Content

Module 1: Foundations of Gender in Humanitarian Action

• Defining humanitarian action and its core principles.
• Understanding gender as a social construct and its relevance in crises.
• Why humanitarian crises are not gender-neutral: differentiated impacts.
• The humanitarian-development-peace nexus with a gender lens.
• Introduction to key international frameworks (e.g., IASC Gender Policy).

Module 2: Gender Analysis in Emergencies

• Purpose and methodology of rapid gender analysis (RGA) in humanitarian settings.
• Tools and techniques for collecting sex and age disaggregated data (SADD).
• Understanding intersectional vulnerabilities in crisis-affected populations.
• Identifying gender roles, responsibilities, and capacities in emergencies.
• Utilizing gender analysis to inform needs assessments and program design.

Module 3: Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Humanitarian Settings

• Understanding the forms, causes, and prevalence of GBV in emergencies.
• The legal and ethical imperative to prevent and respond to GBV.
• Survivor-centered approach and principles for GBV programming.
• Minimum standards for GBV prevention and response in emergencies (e.g., IASC Guidelines).
• Referral pathways and coordination mechanisms for GBV services.

Module 4: Gender Integration Across Humanitarian Sectors (Part 1)

• Gender in Food Security and Livelihoods: access to food, income, and resources.
• Gender in Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH): safety, dignity, and accessibility of facilities.
• Gender in Health: sexual and reproductive health (SRH), mental health, and MHPSS.
• Gender in Education in Emergencies: protection from SRGBV, continued learning.
• Gender in Shelter and Non-Food Items (NFIs): safe design and equitable distribution.

Module 5: Gender Integration Across Humanitarian Sectors (Part 2)

• Gender in Protection: child protection, protection of persons with disabilities, older persons, and LGBTQIA+ individuals.
• Gender in Camp Management and Coordination: inclusive governance and community participation.
• Gender in Cash and Voucher Assistance (CVA): gendered access and control over resources.
• Gender in Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Climate Change Adaptation: gendered vulnerabilities and capacities.
• Gender in Early Recovery and Livelihoods: women's economic empowerment in post-crisis contexts.

Module 6: Women's Leadership and Participation in Humanitarian Response

• The importance of women's meaningful participation in decision-making processes.
• Empowering local women's organizations as first responders.
• Addressing barriers to women's leadership in humanitarian structures.
• Strategies for promoting women's voices in community-based planning.
• Case studies of women-led initiatives in emergencies.

Module 7: Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP) and Complaints Mechanisms

• Principles of AAP and how gender influences accountability.
• Designing gender-sensitive and accessible feedback and complaints mechanisms.
• Ensuring safe reporting channels for GBV and other protection concerns.
• Community engagement and participation with a gender lens.
• Building trust and transparency with diverse groups in humanitarian operations.

Module 8: Gender Mainstreaming and Coordination in Humanitarian Response

• Role of Gender in Humanitarian Action (GiHA) Working Groups and Gender Advisors.
• Integrating gender into the Humanitarian Programme Cycle (HPC): needs assessment, strategic planning, monitoring.
• Gender in inter-agency coordination mechanisms (clusters, sectors).
• Resource mobilization and gender-responsive budgeting in humanitarian appeals.
• Challenges and opportunities for effective gender mainstreaming.

Module 9: Emerging Issues, Innovation, and Future Directions

• Addressing gender in urban humanitarian contexts and forced migration.
• The role of technology and digital tools in gender-responsive humanitarian action.
• Engaging men and boys as allies for gender equality in emergencies.
• Sustaining gender gains in the transition from relief to development.
• Advocacy for stronger commitments and implementation of gender in humanitarian action.

Training Approach

This course will be delivered by our skilled trainers who have vast knowledge and experience as expert professionals in the fields. The course is taught in English and through a mix of theory, practical activities, group discussion and case studies. Course manuals and additional training materials will be provided to the participants upon completion of the training.

Tailor-Made Course

This course can also be tailor-made to meet organization requirement. For further inquiries, please contact us on: Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org  Tel: +254 702 249 449

Training Venue

The training will be held at our Skills for Africa Training Institute Training Centre. We also offer training for a group at requested location all over the world. The course fee covers the course tuition, training materials, two break refreshments, and buffet lunch.

Visa application, travel expenses, airport transfers, dinners, accommodation, insurance, and other personal expenses are catered by the participant

Certification

Participants will be issued with Skills for Africa Training Institute certificate upon completion of this course.

Airport Pickup and Accommodation

Airport pickup and accommodation is arranged upon request. For booking contact our Training Coordinator through Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org  Tel: +254 702 249 449

Terms of Payment: Unless otherwise agreed between the two parties’ payment of the course fee should be done 7 working days before commencement of the training