2021 Annual Partners Meeting
Virtual Event | September 13 – 15, 2021
The 2021 Annual Partners Meeting of the Call to Action on Protection from Gender-Based Violence in Emergencies (Call to Action) was held virtually over three days, bringing together partners from governments, international organisations, and NGOs to reflect on progress, define priorities, and strengthen collective action under the 2021–2025 Road Map.
The meeting focused on taking stock of achievements, identifying gaps, and improving the partnership’s effectiveness, governance, and accountability.
Key Themes and Discussions
Taking Stock of Progress
Participants reflected on progress since the launch of the Call to Action and the first Road Map, highlighting:
Increased prioritisation of GBV across the humanitarian system
Stronger leadership engagement and improved coordination
Greater availability of tools, guidance, and accountability mechanisms
At the same time, partners noted that GBV remains under-prioritised in many responses, particularly in terms of funding and implementation.
Impact of COVID-19 and Ongoing Gaps
Discussions highlighted the impact of COVID-19 as a “shadow pandemic,” which:
Increased risks of GBV globally
Placed greater pressure on frontline responders, particularly women-led organisations (WLOs)
Key gaps identified included:
Limited funding for GBV programming
Insufficient inclusion and support for local and women-led organisations
Continued challenges in prioritising GBV in humanitarian planning processes
Priorities for Collective Action
Partners identified several priority areas for the coming period:
Strengthening localisation and support to WLOs
Improving GBV funding and resource mobilisation
Enhancing accountability and reporting mechanisms
Advancing collective advocacy efforts
The importance of working more effectively across stakeholder groups was emphasised, including through the establishment of cross-stakeholder groups on key themes.
Road Map 2021–2025 Implementation
A key focus was reviewing progress and gaps in commitments under the new Road Map:
Over 600 commitments had been made across six outcome areas
Gaps remain in areas such as accountability, data, and joint commitments
Stronger links are needed between commitments and implementation in practice
Participants discussed ways to improve collaboration, track progress, and ensure that commitments lead to measurable results.
Governance and Partnership Functioning
The meeting also addressed how the partnership operates, with emphasis on:
Increasing transparency and inclusiveness in decision-making
Strengthening engagement across stakeholder groups
Addressing power dynamics within the partnership
Improving participation and reporting across members
Proposals included establishing time-bound cross-stakeholder groups, enhancing communication, and creating mechanisms such as peer support or “buddy systems.”
Key Outcomes and Next Steps
The meeting resulted in a set of priority actions, including:
Advancing cross-stakeholder collaboration on advocacy, funding, and localisation
Strengthening accountability through improved reporting and use of existing frameworks
Supporting greater engagement of women-led organisations in decision-making and funding
Continuing discussions to address gaps in Road Map commitments and implementation
Follow-up actions and consultations were identified to ensure that discussions translate into concrete progress across the partnership.
Summary
The 2021 Annual Partners Meeting reinforced the importance of collective action to address GBV in emergencies, while highlighting persistent gaps in funding, localisation, and accountability. It also marked an important step in advancing the implementation of the 2021–2025 Road Map, with a stronger focus on collaboration, inclusiveness, and results.