02 Mar, 2022

As part of a coordinated response to gender-based violence (GBV), UNFPA and its partners provide a structured GBV case management process to survivors that can include referrals to medical, legal and other specialised services. This process provides a follow-up to challenges that a survivor may be facing, but these services may come with a cost that can be a barrier for survivors, such as transport, legal, or specialised medical costs. To address these barriers, UNFPA colleagues have integrated life-saving cash assistance into survivors’ case action plans. Cash is dignifying, discreet, and flexible, helping survivors to escape violence and violent relationships, seek emergency medical care, secure temporary shelter, and buy food and other essentials for themselves and their children. UNFPA is continually refining its approach based on feedback from cash recipients, their case managers, and implementing partners in the field. This document presents key insights and knowledge gained from...

27 Mar, 2020

23 Jul, 2020

13 Dec, 2022

Millions of women and girls are unable to manage their menstrual cycle in a dignified, healthy way. The onset of menstruation (or periods as they can be known) is a new phase and can bring with it new risks to the lives of adolescent girls. Many girls face stigma, harassment and social exclusion during menstruation. Gender inequality, discrimination, social norms, cultural taboos, poverty and lack of basic services like toilets and sanitary products can all cause menstrual health and hygiene needs to go unmet. When this happens it restricts women and girls’ mobility and personal choices. It affects attendance in school and participation in community life. It also compromises their safety, causing additional stress and anxiety. These challenges are particularly acute in humanitarian crises. Period poverty is the lack of access to menstrual hygiene information, products, and toilets- forcing women and girls to risk their health, and miss out on education and employment opportunities. ...

16 Dec, 2021

As part of the humanitarian response in Lebanon, UNFPA Lebanon piloted the integration of cash assistance within GBV case management services. UNFPA implemented three different types of cash assistance: one-off emergency cash assistance, recurrent cash assistance, and cash for transport. These forms of cash assistance were integrated into comprehensive GBV services offered by UNFPA and its implementing partners, with a goal of improving protection outcomes for GBV survivors and mitigating individuals’ risk of GBV. Based on the analysis of the first PDMs conducted, the introduction of cash in case management had a positive impact on intended protection outcomes. For example: 75% of beneficiaries considered the cash assistance adequate to meet their immediate needs, such as covering the costs of safe accommodation, medical treatment, legal counseling, and transportation to access services or to a safer location. 100% of beneficiaries did not experience any safety-related incid...

29 Jul, 2021

This report is a primer for GBV actors on anticipatory action. It aims to provide a brief overview of what an anticipatory action approach is, including how this approach differs from disaster risk reduction and preparedness work. The report describes the systems, processes and timelines that align with the approach, including the different lead times for undertaking anticipatory actions depending on the specific type of emergency event, or hazard, and how these link to operational planning processes, including the design of GBV activities to be implemented as part of the anticipatory actions

30 Mar, 2021

This learning brief is part of a series of knowledge products produced by the Gender-Based Violence Area of Responsibility (GBV AoR) Helpdesk. UNFPA colleagues have partnered in the development and finalization of the content. To supplement the desk review that informs this learning brief, the Helpdesk also undertook interviews with ten colleagues working in humanitarian settings around the world with expertise in climate change and/or addressing GBV in climate-affected settings.