Photo credit: GMB Akash/Panos/Saferworld

Conflict and gender sensitivity

Conflicts often revolve around competition for power, status or resources. Well-intentioned aid and investment can influence conflict by bringing new resources and incentives into play. More subtly, they can reinforce and disrupt established cultural norms, hierarchies and authorities in ways that can either reduce or fuel pre-existing tensions.

These impacts are experienced differently by women, men, girls and boys. It is integral that donors or organisations who engage with conflict-affected contexts fully understand these potential impacts and respond to the effects of their interactions in the area, including gender dynamics.

Our work

We work with governments, United Nations agencies, donors, companies, humanitarian organisations, civil society organisations and communities to help ensure their projects or investments put the people they impact the most in the driving seat. Our goal is for these projects and investments to contribute to long-term peace and development rather than increase pre-existing tensions and inequalities.

How we promote conflict and gender sensitivity

Helpdesks: We use in-house expertise and wide networks to respond quickly to the analytical needs of partners. We provide conflict analyses, conflict sensitivity trainings, and reviews of strategies, portfolios or project proposals through our conflict sensitivity helpdesks. We also provide tailored advisory support as and when required to donors and governments in order to help them integrate conflict sensitivity within their programmes.
A joined-up approach: We bring together donors and international and national organisations to strengthen the aid sector’s ability to adopt more conflict-sensitive approaches. For example, the Conflict Sensitivity Resource Facility is our flagship multi-donor facility that aims to help a range of partners understand and navigate the complex conflict dynamics in South Sudan. It does this by providing trainings, institutional support, research and outreach for international and national organisations as well as multilateral institutions.
Tailored consultancies: Beyond one-off trainings and research, our Conflict Advisory Unit also offers tailored guidance to staff and partners from a wide range of organisations and institutions.