Paper: ‘We said we built their capacity, but they built ours’ – Collaborating with women actors in humanitarian protection

Paper details

Paper authors Helen Lindley-Jones
In panel on Let’s make sure that Local Humanitarian Leadership means more women’s leadership in the humanitarian sector
Paper presenter(s) will be presenting In-Person / Online

Abstract

The extent to which the discourse on both women’s leadership and localisation has been translated into more meaningful collaboration between international actors and national and local women responding to crises varies considerably. Through primary and secondary research CARE International has conducted a global research study which seeks to understand whether and how the humanitarian protection sector is meaningfully collaborating with women actors – Whether women as individual volunteers, leaders, women-led groups or organisations. The research outlines evidence of how women actors contribute to a more contextualised and effective humanitarian response. Despite this, the value of collaboration is often not recognised, and is undermined by project based sub-granting approaches. Minority groups, such as women’s Disabled People’s Organisations, are particularly marginalised. Promising examples of collaboration do exist, and building on these the research outlines practical ways to strengthen collaboration, including formalising in strategies partnership with women-led organisations, and investing in emergency preparedness.

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Presenters

Helen Lindley-jones
CARE International