Food Security in Protracted Crisis: Issues&Challenges: Gender Issues in Protracted Crises

The food security status of men and women is affected very differently in both acute and protracted crisis situations, most notably in three key areas:

*Through sexual exploitation and gender-based violence
*Access to (or lack of) social services such as healthcare and education
*Stress on livelihood strategies and survival or coping mechanisms

In armed conflicts differences in gender roles result in part from unequal access by men and women to assets, economic opportunities, services, crisis aid and decision-making.

-Debates on food security in humanitarian emergencies and protracted crises have largely ignored gender issues. In many crises little is known about gender dynamics prior to the crisis, limiting the basis for analysing both the short and long term impacts. These knowledge gaps are further compounded by a dearth of gender-disaggregated data on poverty and vulnerability in protracted crisis situations.

-To overcome the negligence of gender issues in addressing food insecurity in protracted crises, there are four key areas that should be addressed.

*A better analysis of the various vulnerabilities and impacts generated by the crises.

*Increased programming on the ground that is gender sensitive and seeks to restore, not only existing inequalities but also to secure and build assets in ways that empower victims of crises (eg. through safe and secure access to land, cash and other productive resources for women and youth)

*Humanitarian responses that deliberately ensure that institutions embrace a gender perspective in which the needs and rights of both women and men are recognized

*Increased improvement of access to health and education particularly for women, resulting in a long-term positive effect on social and economic development in communities affected by protracted crises.