One of yesterday's Forum workshops, Different Needs, Equal Opportunities: Integrating Gender into Humanitarian Response, included a discussion about the Inter-Agency Standing Committee's (IASC) new gender e-learning course and how best to address the needs of all in humanitarian efforts.
The course, Different Needs-Equal Opportunities, is a free self-paced course and participants receive a certificate upon completion. More information about the course is available on this website.
Developed over two and a half years, and based on IASC’s Gender Guide book, the course aims to address gender equality and integration in humanitarian response. It is a collaboration across multiple sectors, including: camp coordination and management, education, food distribution and security, health, livelihoods, non-food items, nutrition, shelter, and water, sanitation and hygiene. The UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has made the course mandatory for all field staff and continues to urge other organizations to follow suit.
In addition to the e-learning course, gender’s relevance in humanitarian efforts was addressed. Outlining how disasters affect individuals differently and therefore needs and programs must be adjusted to suit all people. The need for equal representation in all sectors and prioritizing gender equality in policy and development was also stressed. Success stories were shared, including sexual health training pamphlets and gender inclusive education curriculum developed in Afghanistan. Gender integration related to security was also discussed along with strategies for promoting gender equality across all sectors of development.
