The Gender in Humanitarian Action Working Group (GiHA WG) is a subsidiary of the UN Country Team’s (UNCT) Gender Theme Group. The GiHA WG offers interagency and intersectoral technical capacity to the Humanitarian Coordinator, the Humanitarian Country Team and all other stakeholders involved in the humanitarian response, including government authorities, to ensure the integration of gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls. The overarching objective of the GiHA WG is to ensure the coordinated humanitarian response in Ukraine robustly integrates gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, adhering to the guidelines established by the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) 2017 Gender Policy.
The GiHA WG aims to
• Enhance decision-making and communication on gender equality within humanitarian clusters and stakeholders
• Provide technical and policy support on gender equality and empowerment of women and girls
• Strengthen capacities for gender analysis, gender transformative programming, and gender-responsive strategies
• Advocate for inclusive, meaningful participation and leadership of women’s and LGBTIQA+ individuals
For additional details about the GiHA WG, kindly refer to the group's Terms of Reference.
To access GiHA WG 2025 Work Plan, kindly refer to the following link: GiHA WG 2025 Work Plan
If your organization wants to be a member of the GiHA WG, please register here or send an email to fatih.kilinc@unwomen.org
The Gender in Humanitarian Action Working Group (GiHA WG) has introduced a revised definition of Women’s Rights Organizations (WROs) in consultation with WROs specifically tailored to the unique context of the Ukrainian humanitarian response. In Ukraine, while many women-led organizations (WLOs) are engaged in humanitarian activities, they do not always prioritize or represent the specific needs of crisis-affected women and girls, nor do they consistently focus on advancing gender equality. The definitions of WROs developed by the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC), Grand Bargain, and the UN Partner Portals, while valuable, do not fully address these nuanced dynamics. Therefore, the GiHA WG’s revised definition distinguishes between organizations that are women-led and those that are actively committed to promoting women's rights and gender equality.
The definition proposed by GiHA WG is crucial for accurately channeling and tracking funding, ensuring that resources support organizations dedicated to transforming gender inequalities and empowering women and girls. It also enhances the ability to monitor the impact of funding, ensuring alignment with the Grand Bargain’s emphasis on transparency and accountability.
Based on the above rationale, GiHA WG defines WROs as the following:
A Women’s Rights Organization (WRO) is:
1) An organization that self-identifies as a woman’s rights organization with the primary focus of advancing gender equality, women’s empowerment and human rights; or
2) An organization that has, as part of its mission statement, the advancement of women’s and girls’ interests and rights (or where ‘women’, ‘girls’, ‘gender’ or local language equivalents are prominent in their mission statement); or
3) An organization that has, as part of its mission statement or objectives, to challenge and transform gender inequalities (unjust rules), unequal power relations and promoting positive social norms.
Жіноча правозахисна організація - це:
1) Організація, яка ідентифікує себе як жіноча правозахисна організація та має за основну мету просування гендерної рівності, розширення прав і можливостей жінок та прав людини; або
2) Організація, у місії якої зафіксоване просування інтересів і прав жінок та дівчат (або «жінки», «дівчата», «гендер» та інші дотичні терміни згадуються в місії); або
3) Організація, у місії або цілях якої зафіксоване завдання зменшувати та трансформувати гендерну нерівність, нерівні владні відносини та просувати позитивні соціальні норми.
Ukraine
As global leaders, donors, and civil society gather in Rome for the 2025 Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC), Ukraine stands at a pivotal juncture. The conference is a critical opportunity to ensure that recovery efforts do not…
Ukraine
Ukrainian and international NGOs working on the gendered impacts of the war in Ukraine continue to call for all reconstruction and recovery processes to ensure the full, equal, meaningful and safe participation and leadership of diverse…
Ukraine
The resilience analysis was commissioned by CARE Ukraine to better understand key elements for increasing resilience of Ukraine’s households affected by war, including capacities and assets to cope with shocks, stresses and uncertainty. In line with…
Ukraine + 3 more
Summary: The full-scale war in Ukraine has profoundly disrupted the lives of all Ukrainians, affecting families, communities, and social structures both within the country and in host countries such as Poland, Romania, and Moldova. The war has…
Ukraine
Three years into the war in Ukraine, the toll on civilians remains devastating — especially for women and girls. Yet, amid the hardship, Ukrainian communities and civil society organizations continue to show remarkable resilience, bolstered by…
Ukraine
Kyiv, July 09, 2025 - As Ukraine prepares for the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2025 (URC25) in Rome, CARE calls on governments, donors and recovery actors to ensure gender equality and the needs of marginalized groups are…
Ukraine
UN Women helped 180,000 Ukrainian women in 2024 to lead in recovery efforts, politics, businesses and more. "I can't imagine myself anywhere else,” says Kseniia Mishyna, although she cannot remember when she last ate or slept or…
Ukraine
Depuis 2020, avec le soutien d'Affaires mondiales Canada, le projet SEED (Securing Women's Economic Empowerment for Recovery and Development) d'Acted a amélioré la prospérité économique des femmes et des personnes les plus vulnérables et marginalisées en…
Ukraine
Introduction Following the agreement reached during the GBV AoR thematic meeting on dignity kits was held and an ad hoc Task Team on Dignity Kits was established. Comprising partners with extensive experience and high distribution volumes, the…
Ukraine
This capacity needs assessment for non-GBV actors was conducted by GBV AoR in Ukraine [1] to: 1) Assess the current needs of different non-GBV actors in strengthening understanding of the basic concepts of GBV programming in Ukraine…
Ukraine
Introduction This report presents the findings of Risk Assessment conducted at the Transit Centers of Pavlohrad and Dnipro City, both of which provide support to evacuees from Donetska and Dnipropetrovska Oblasts. The Pavlohrad Transit Center (TC), opened…
Ukraine
Introduction This report presents the findings of the Risk Assessment conducted at Kyselivka Modular Town (in Chornobaivskyi, Khersonska), which has a dual-purpose modality serving as a Collective site and Transit site. Kyselivka modular town opened in July…
Ukraine
Introduction This report presents the findings of Risk Assessment conducted at the Transit Centers of Kharkiv City and Izium, both of which provide support to evacuees from Kharkivska Oblast. The Kharkiv Transit Center (TC) opened in May…
Ukraine + 2 more
Women-led organizations and women's rights organizations have played a central role in responding to the war in Ukraine and refugee hosting countries, providing frontline services, addressing gender-based violence, and supporting displaced populations. However, these organizations continue…
Ukraine
Introduction Since 2022, the Gender in Humanitarian Action Working Group (GiHA WG) in Ukraine has been actively working to integrate gender equality and women’s empowerment into humanitarian response efforts across the country. This report showcases good practices…
Syrian Arab Republic
Background The Gender Working Group (GWG) in the Syria cross-border humanitarian operation works to facilitate and deliver on agreed Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) commitments to mainstream and advance gender equality into humanitarian action. The GWG provides technical…
