Position Paper No 4: Gender and Disaster Risk Reduction Building Disaster Resilient Communities 2

Why is it important to consider gender in DRR? Disasters affect gender groups differently, as such risk reduction should take this into consideration - Girls and women most vulnerable to being trafficked during disasters, protection measures should be targeted to this group -Special accommodations should be made for girls and women at safe sites (safety, privacy, accessibility) to prevent violence -Boys at risk of drowning as they tend to play in water during floods. Messages about drowning risk reduction should be targeted.

Background of position paper Developed as part of ‘Building Disaster Resilient Communities 2’ project; formulated based on findings of research Gender audit Participatory action research Worthy of being ‘stand alone’ position instead of being integrated into other positions Not yet fully endorsed by JAG; will be taken forward in 2016

Recommendation I: Integrate Gender Sensitivity into National Disaster and Climate Policy and Plans Integrate gender into DM and DRR strategies and implementation, and further involve PDWAs in sub-national planning Integrate gender into climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction policies/action plans

Recommendation II: Improve Gender Awareness among Sub-National Disaster Management Stakeholders Deepen understanding of gender among community-level disaster management actors Improve gender disaggregated data collection Gender sensitivity in training and tools

Recommendation III: Promote Women’s Participation in Disaster Management Identify strategies to encourage women to take leadership roles in PCDMs and DCDMs Identify strategies to encourage women to take community DM leadership roles Account for migration patterns while encouraging participation