The RoadMap

A Framework for Collective Action

The Roadmap is the central guiding framework of the Call to Action partnership, guiding collective action to prevent, mitigate, and respond to gender-based violence in emergencies. It defines the core principles, goal, outcomes, and commitments that drive change across the humanitarian system.

Drawing on the 2021–2025 Roadmap, the current version reflects lessons learned, achievements, and persistent gaps identified by partners.

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Goal

To collectively drive change within the humanitarian sphere so that policies, systems and financing consistently prioritise and resource GBV risk mitigation, prevention and response, leading to greater protection and agency of women, girls and other at-risk individuals in crises.

Core Principles

The Roadmap affirms six core principles that guide all partner commitments:

Adherence to the GBV guiding principles and a survivor centred approach

Accountability to affected populations and engagement and empowerment of WLOs

An intersectional approach is key for effective survivor-centered programming

Commitment to addressing structural gender inequality

Adherence to Centrality of Protection and Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and Sexual Harassment

Alliance building and partnership

Outcomes & Commitments

The Roadmap identifies two outcomes, with partners making measurable commitments under each. Together, they define the shared ambition of the Call to Action over the next five years.

1

Outcome 1 — Advocacy & Integration

Coordinated, survivor-centred advocacy

Through coordinated, survivor-centred advocacy, GBV risk mitigation, prevention and response is systematically prioritised and integrated into humanitarian planning and action.

8 Partner Commitments

  • Resource and leverage learning from GBV actors (including WLOs) and non-specialised actors to inform humanitarian strategies, planning and decision-making.

  • Leverage bilateral and collective advocacy to ensure that humanitarian leadership and structures (e.g. Emergency Relief Coordinator, Humanitarian Coordinators (HCs), Humanitarian Country Teams (HCTs), cluster leads in humanitarian settings, United Nations Country Teams (UNCT) and other decision-making structures under the refugee coordination model) prioritise and resource lifesaving GBV interventions, including quality and accessible health and SRH services and clinical management of rape (CMR), as well as Centrality of Protection. 

  • Across all humanitarian settings, advance implementation of the GBV Minimum Standards as required actions by GBV specialised agencies to effectively prevent and respond to GBV. 

  • Across all humanitarian settings, advance implementation of the IASC GBV Guidelines. Those are required actions for all humanitarian sectors (shelter, land and site coordination; protection; logistics and telecommunications; education; food security; health; nutrition; and WASH) and actors to mitigate risks of GBV. 

  • Support national authorities, WLOs and other GBV actors to strengthen coordination of GBV prevention and response interventions, within existing structures or based on operational needs, through dedicated spaces. Under the IASC, GBV working groups under the Protection Cluster may be established in response to operational needs identified and proposed by the cluster members, local and national actors. Under the refugee coordination model, GBV working groups are also established based on operational needs under the Protection Working Group.

  • Support participation and leadership of WLOs in coordination and decision-making structures including the Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) and Country-based Pooled Funds (CBPF) advisory boards.

  • Organise and contribute to high-visibility advocacy on GBV at key global and regional forums and events, supporting WLO leadership and messages grounded in experience and evidence from humanitarian settings.

  • Advocate for gender equality, SRHR and GBV in humanitarian reform processes and broader systems; including lifesaving services for GBV survivors such as CMR and implementation of the MISP, resist efforts to dilute gender equality language and to reduce funding for GBV interventions or accountability mechanisms. 

2

Outcome 2 — Financing

Predictable, accessible and flexible financing

Financing for GBV prevention, response and risk mitigation in humanitarian settings is more predictable, accessible and flexible, with a measurable and growing share going to WLOs.

7 Partner Commitments

  • Advocate for humanitarian funding mechanisms, including CBPFs and other relevant funds, to allocate predictable and flexible funding for GBV, including increased allocations and dedicated percentages.

  • Commit dedicated, thematically and earmarked funding for GBV prevention and response; and prioritise funding for locally led response and interventions in line with GBV Minimum Standards.

  • Mandate GBV risk mitigation across sectors in funding criteria and ensure those are funded through sectoral funding; fund programmes that explicitly demonstrate planning for GBV risk mitigation. 

  • Invest in and strengthen pooled funding mechanisms — including locally-led funds, feminist funds and UN system trust funds — that support GBV prevention, response and women's and girls' empowerment in crisis settings.

  • Simplify and harmonise eligibility, application, reporting and risk-management requirements for WLOs to reduce barriers to accessing funding.

  • Address barriers to progressively increasing investment in WLOs each year. Track and report annually on the amount and percentage of GBV funding reaching WLOs, disaggregated by funding modality and organisation type.

  • Engage new and non-traditional donors, including philanthropists, foundations and private sector actors, to diversify funding streams for GBV work in humanitarian settings.