Paper details

Paper authors	Marjolein Roelandt
In panel on	More than (Buzz)Words: Participation in Humanitarian Practice
Paper presenter(s) will be presenting	In-Person / Online

Abstract

During humanitarian crises, temporary settlements that host displaced populations are often subject to a variety of cultural and practical obstacles that may limit women and girls’ involvement in community activities and decision-making structures. Despite efforts carried out by humanitarian actors to promote community participation, women and girls’ involvement tends to be largely restricted to the private sphere. Their voices and concerns remain under-represented in decision-making processes, not only impacting their physical and psychological well-being, but also potentially increasing their risks of being exposed to violence in general and gender-based violence (GBV) in particular.
This paper presents the findings of the Women’s Participation pilot project implemented by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) with the technical support of the Women’s Refugee Commission (WRC) in coordination with the Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM) Cluster. The project was rolled out with the goal of proactively enhancing women’s participation in displacement sites, part of a broader global-level project aimed at reducing GBV risks in camps and camp-like settings. Building on the core responsibilities pertaining to CCCM agencies in relation to community participation in displacement sites, IOM and WRC developed a toolkit to enable CCCM agencies and other humanitarian actors to proactively support this goal. The toolkit was also aimed at developing a better understanding of how increased participation by women and girls can contribute to more effectively raising their voices in decision-making structures, in addition to enhancing their protection environment. This paper presents some of the key findings of the Women’s Participation project activities implemented in Iraq, Nigeria, Bangladesh, the Philippines, South Sudan and Ecuador, between May 2016 and September 2017. These findings should inform CCCM actors, and more broadly, humanitarian practitioners working with displaced communities.

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