Why Women’s Leadership Matters in Humanitarian Action
Date:
UN Women Burundi, in collaboration with the National Platform for Disaster Risk Prevention and Management and several UN agencies including UNFPA, UNHCR, OCHA and IOM, organized a capacity-building workshop at La Détente in Bujumbura on integrating gender into humanitarian programming and disaster risk management.
The workshop brought together women leaders from national organizations, humanitarian actors and experts with a shared objective: strengthening the capacity of women-led organizations to effectively integrate gender perspectives into humanitarian response and disaster management.
Speaking on behalf of the UN Women Burundi Representative, Ms. Donatienne Girukwishaka, Head of Programmes, emphasized that women and girls are often among the most affected during humanitarian crises, yet they play a critical role in community resilience, survival and recovery.
Meanwhile, Roger Ndikumana, President of the National Platform for Disaster Risk Prevention and Management, highlighted that protecting women and girls in times of crisis requires coordinated, multi-sectoral efforts, including community awareness, early warning systems, and capacity-building for risk management.
Experts also addressed several key topics such as:
- the importance of data and information in disaster risk management
- gender-responsive humanitarian shelter and assistance
- protection of refugees and vulnerable populations
- humanitarian coordination and principles
- zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse
The workshop was marked by rich discussions and active participation, enabling participants to strengthen their knowledge and exchange experiences toward more inclusive and gender-responsive humanitarian action in Burundi.
Together, we continue to promote women’s leadership in crisis prevention and humanitarian response.