Briefing Note: How Development Actors Can Support Safe and Effective Response to GBV When Emergencies Occur

Author(s): Jeanne Ward, GBV AoR Helpdesk

This briefing note is targeted to development actors working on GBV who increasingly may be facing humanitarian emergencies. Historically, aid to countries has been largely divided into humanitarian response and development progress, which in many countries has resulted in development investments being isolated or distinct from humanitarian response systems and programs. However, ongoing challenges associated with climate change, global epidemics such as COVID-19, conflict and population movements mean that increasing numbers of settings experience cyclical humanitarian crises. There are important actions that development actors can undertake, even from the preparedness stage of an emergency, to support more effective GBV prevention and response after the emergency strikes.

This brief explores the nexus approach for addressing GBV and identifies some of the key considerations for development actors* when preparing for and responding to GBV in emergencies and provides specific recommendations to governments and national organizations for integrating humanitarian considerations into development planning, policies, and programming.

* UN Women Asia-Pacific also contributed to the development of this publication