Virtual Event | January 20, 2021
Key Documents
The Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) convened a high-level roundtable on 20 January 2021 with IASC Principals and gender-based violence (GBV) partners to address funding gaps in GBV programming in humanitarian settings. The meeting was chaired by the Emergency Relief Coordinator and brought together senior representatives from UN agencies, donors, and partner organisations.
The roundtable followed earlier discussions in 2020 and responded to growing concern over increasing GBV risks during the COVID-19 pandemic, alongside persistent underfunding of GBV programmes.
Key Objectives
The roundtable aimed to:
Identify practical steps to ensure adequate funding for GBV prevention, mitigation, and response
Exchange experiences on improving prioritisation, visibility, and tracking of GBV funding
Contribute to broader efforts, including the Call to Action, to address GBV in humanitarian contexts
Key Issues and Discussions
Funding Gaps and Underinvestment
Participants highlighted that:
GBV funding remained significantly below needs, with less than 15% of requirements met in 2020
GBV programming was underfunded compared to other humanitarian sectors
Several contributors emphasised that insufficient funding directly affects the availability of life-saving services.
Prioritisation, Tracking, and Accountability
Discussions focused on improving how GBV is reflected and tracked within humanitarian response systems:
Strengthening the inclusion of GBV in Humanitarian Needs Overviews and Response Plans
Improving financial tracking through tools such as OCHA’s Financial Tracking System
Enhancing transparency and reporting on GBV funding
Participants also noted the importance of clear definitions, indicators, and data systems to support accountability.
Flexible and Quality Funding
A strong emphasis was placed on:
The importance of flexible, unearmarked funding
Ensuring funding reaches the right actors at the right time
Avoiding excessive reporting burdens that could hinder implementation
Several donors and organisations highlighted existing commitments and funding approaches to support GBV programming.
Localisation and Women-Led Organisations
Participants consistently highlighted the need to:
Strengthen engagement with local and women-led organisations
Ensure these actors are included in planning, decision-making, and funding flows
This was identified as critical for both effectiveness and accountability in GBV response.
Integration Across Humanitarian Response
The discussion also underscored that:
GBV is a cross-cutting, life-saving issue
It must be integrated across sectors and coordination mechanisms
Stronger links are needed between humanitarian, development, and peace efforts
Participants highlighted the importance of addressing root causes, including gender inequality.
Follow-Up Actions
Key actions identified included:
Improving the accuracy and transparency of GBV funding data and reporting
Strengthening dialogue between donors and operational agencies
Convening follow-up discussions to track progress
Promoting meaningful participation of women-led organisations
Supporting flexible funding approaches and addressing broader protection funding gaps
Summary
The 2021 IASC GBV Funding Roundtable highlighted the persistent gap between GBV needs and available funding, while identifying concrete steps to improve prioritisation, coordination, and accountability. It also reinforced the importance of collective action across the humanitarian system, including through the Call to Action, to ensure that GBV prevention and response are adequately resourced.