In the second half of 2020, women’s rights organisation (WRO) members of the Feminist Humanitarian Network undertook research in eight countries – Bangladesh, Kenya, Lebanon, Liberia, Nepal, Nigeria, Palestine, and South Africa – to understand the impact of the pandemic in humanitarian contexts.
WROs defined the questions and led the research, and coordination and administrative support was provided by the FHN Secretariat and INGO FHN members.
The research has produced nine reports: a national report for each of the countries where research was undertaken, and a global report, collating the findings from across each context.
Key findings - throughout Covid-19:
- WROs have played a key role in the response, ensuring communities are equipped to take preventative action.
- WROs have played a unique role in responding to increases in gender injustice, prioritising gender-based violence in their work, and addressing gaps in critical services for women.
- WROs have been largely excluded from humanitarian decision-making driven by national and international actors; their humanitarian efforts and leadership have, for the most part, gone unrecognised.
- Funding has been a critical issue for WROs, with larger organisations being prioritised for emergency funds, and funds for longer term work being reallocated. Heavy due diligence requirements have been a primary obstacle for WROs in accessing emergency funding. In many cases WROs have funded their work from the personal resources of staff and board members.
- WROs have persevered through these challenges, using creative and feminist approaches to ensure that those they work with haven’t been left behind. WROs have worked together to advocate, fundraise, and provide each other moral support – in the “spirit of sisterhood”.