By Johanna Wynn-Mitscherlich
As we mark World Humanitarian Day (WHD) on Monday 19th August, we put the spotlight on six women leaders who are bringing desperately needed relief to people facing crises. They work tirelessly to support humanitarian teams on the frontlines of many of the world’s most urgent emergencies.
Working amid war, natural and man-made disasters, they face not only the inherent risks of all people living in a crisis but also additional risks simply for being women. They are more exposed to all forms of violence. What drives them to overcome all these challenges is the commitment to help create a more inclusive, equitable, and positive future – especially for women and girls who suffer the most during crises.
Engaging more women leaders and change-makers in humanitarian responses is vital. They help ensure all people receive support better tailored to their specific needs, based on age, gender but also disability and other characteristics. From Gaza to Ukraine and Sudan, six women leaders share how to improve security for female aid workers and what needs to change to make sure women and girls get the support they so urgently need.
Ebtesam Ahmed, Sudan: Women need more training opportunities
“Women in Sudan, and even me as a female leader, feel under a lot of pressure as we are traditionally the ones responsible for our family, for making sure everyone is fed and healthy. This is why I think educational opportunities for female staff are crucial. Women need to be able to attend training as part of their jobs since often they have limited time juggling family responsibilities and their paid work.
For decades, women were told we cannot do what men can, and male bosses and supervisors made sure we were put in what was thought was ‘our place’. As humanitarian organisations, we need to help drive social change in our countries and continue to change this way of thinking. We are role models, as we help shift awareness in communities. When some program participants talk to us as women, they might realise for the first time that it is possible to send their daughters to school, and that, in doing so, they are also able to improve the lives of their entire community.”
Ebtesam Ahmed is CARE’s Head of Program and Operations in Sudan.
Nahed Abu Iyada, Gaza: We need to create the best support systems for women and girls facing crises
“The biggest challenge for me as an aid worker is the lack of safety and security. Right now, no one in Gaza is safe. With 40,000 civilians and over 280 aid workers have been killed, as well as at least 500 health workers.
The security situation is difficult for everyone in the Strip, but women and girls are particularly affected. As CARE, we have established safe spaces where women and girls can seek support and access services. We need to make sure that they know their rights and have resources available to them. In the longer-term, it is crucial to offer programs providing economic opportunities and training, making sure that we can minimise their vulnerability to exploitation and abuse. As staff, we constantly need to learn more about how to support women and girls who have survived gender-based violence. Right now, the focus is on survival, but we still need to make sure that we always view our aid delivery and humanitarian response through a gendered lens.
As a woman, I hope I can inspire other women to pursue their dreams. As a humanitarian worker, I want to help break down gender stereotypes. Despite everything we are enduring, I hope we can show women and girls that a lot of aid agencies are currently working under female leadership, and that all of us – women, men, girls and boys – need to do what we can to help each other through the horror and sorrow.”
Nahed Abu Iyada is CARE West Bank and Gaza’s Health Program Field Officer.
Mona Sherpa, Nepal: Focus on mental health is crucial for the security of humanitarian staff
“Working in humanitarian emergencies can be extremely stressful. In Nepal, we deal with people who have lost everything because of disasters, and often our own staff are impacted as well. One of my biggest goals as Country Director for CARE Nepal was to create a working environment where colleagues feel truly at ease to talk about mental health, and to have a solid support system they can rely on.
We established a partnership with psychosocial support experts, so our staff and their families can talk to someone whenever they feel it would help. Our policies include a focus on mental health, we talk about support options in all our staff meetings, and we make sure that sufficient leave and recuperation time is granted when working in acute emergencies.
It is so important for the quality of our work that everyone can unplug, and then come back refreshed with new energy and a sense of purpose. If we do not take care of our own mental health, we can put not just ourselves, but also our communities at risk.”
Mona Sherpa is CARE Nepal’s Country Director.
Guerda Previlon, Haiti: Strong relationships with community-based organisations are key
“Today, the situation in Haiti is probably worse than it has ever been. Almost five million people are suffering from extreme hunger, out of whom almost two million could die or suffer serious harm if things do not change soon. Over 578,000 people have been displaced by escalating gang violence and political instability. They live in camps that are completely overcrowded. There are no separate toilets or washing facilities for women and girls.
I have learnt over the years to focus on what we can change, rather than get frustrated with the complex political and security situation. The best way to ensure our work is successful, and our staff is safe, is to build strong relationships with the people in the camps and community-based organizations. In many ways, they are our sounding board and alarm system. We have WhatsApp groups, and we are in close contact with them. A lot of the community-based organizations are internally displaced themselves. They know best what the people in the camps need, and act as our facilitators. We provide them with training, and ensure they are a core part of our response.”
Guerda Previlon leads CARE’s partner organisation “Initiative pour le Developpment des Jeunes” (IDEJEN) – Initiative for Youth Development
Amina Nazma, South Sudan: Women must be involved in every step of security processes
“Many of our junior staff members are women. They are the ones most exposed to risks, especially sexual violence. To keep them safe, women must be involved in every step of the security assessment and management process. A woman who has been exposed to sexual violence will typically find it easier to talk to another woman; a female security officer will also be better able to think through what is needed for them to feel safe more than most men can.
In humanitarian crises, it is women and girls who are suffering the most. When civilians need to run for their lives, the women struggle to run fast with children in their arms and holding their hands. Pregnant women might not be able to run at all. Their needs and safety must be considered every step of the way when we plan security and all forms of humanitarian support– and I strongly believe that this is impossible without women leading this process.”
Amina Nazma is CARE’s Sub-Regional Security Officer in East and Central Africa, overseeing the security units in South Sudan, Sudan, Uganda, and Rwanda.
Anna Borysova, Ukraine: The international community must increase support to local organisations
“The main difference between men and women working in the humanitarian sector is how women are perceived. We are often discredited or even disrespected simply for being women. So, all of us face the dangers of living in a war, but, as women, we have increased pressures from society and sexist social norms, not to mention higher risks of harassment.
To help cope with the added pressure, we need more and specialised psychological services for women. At CFSSS, we do what we can to provide mental health support but to do it more effectively we need more support from INGOs and all members of the international community.”
Anna Borysova is the Deputy Director of CARE’s partner organisation Charitable Foundation Stabilization Support Services (CFSSS) in Ukraine
How to answer to these asks?
There is a long road ahead to ensure that women and girls are at the centre of humanitarian responses. A crucial step in this process is to increase support for local women-led organisations (WLOs). Their deep knowledge and existing relationships with affected communities uniquely positions them to identify and respond to the specific needs of entire communities, especially women and girls facing humanitarian crises.
CARE calls on the international community to adequately support local and national actors, including Women Led Organisations, to better manage security risks. This must include both volume and quality funding for security (e.g. to purchase equipment, for training, staffing, analysis and development of security management plans, etc), sharing expertise and ensuring a gender responsive approach to security management. We also demand an end to attacks on all humanitarian staff and call for accountability.
