Integrating child protection, education and gender-based violence in anticipatory action

Humanitarian disasters are increasingly complex: the climate crisis is exacerbating disaster risk, which is further compounded by conflict in many countries. These challenges disproportionately impact girls and boys in all their diversity. While children’s rights in disaster situations are gaining recognition, protecting girls and boys in all their diversity from violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation during disasters, alongside their right to meaningful participation in decisions that affect them, remain significant gaps. 

The Alliance for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action’s Strategy 2021-2025 prioritizes the centrality of children and their protection within humanitarian action as both essential and life-saving. Similarly, a joint UN study on the status of gender equality and women’s leadership in disaster risk reduction recommended that gender-based violence should be a key priority in disaster preparedness, anticipatory action, early and ongoing response activities, and early recovery activities. To realize these ambitions, and to achieve disaster resilience for all, anticipatory action must be inclusive and gender responsive. This briefing, written by the Anticipation Hub’s Working Group on Protection, Gender and Inclusion in Anticipatory Action, explains the main challenges and critical gaps that exist and makes recommendations for governments, practitioners and donors to ensure that anticipatory action addresses the specific needs of girls and boys in all their diversity.