Crises have a disproportionate effect on women, for their children and households and farms and businesses – but are often marginalized in decisions that affect their lives. Women make up most those who die in natural disasters. Moreover, the damage from disasters and conflicts threatens development gains and can undermine years of investments in improving the lives of families and communities. Crises exacerbate existing gender inequalities and pre-existing vulnerabilities – for example, women may be at increased risk during acute during conflicts when rape may be used as a weapon during times of conflict, an all too familiar and extremely sad situation in parts of Kenya and the Eastern African Region at large.

Our humanitarian efforts have a distinct gender focus –this doesn’t mean we only give attention to women and girls, it simply means we recognize that their needs, and strengths, are different from those of men and boys. Women and girls are disproportionately vulnerable in disasters. Assessment reports from cluster coordinating mechanisms shows that, during massive flooding experienced in Tana River and parts of Nakuru Counties early 2018, approximately two-thirds the displaced (and fatalities) population were female and children.

In the aftermath of disaster, women often take on an even larger role as their families’ primary (and sometimes sole) caregiver. Men often migrate away from their villages to earn money to support their families, which leaves women as the only caregivers for their households – and their communities. Through 10 years of emergency response, IAF has learned that for successful emergency responses, rebuilding and community resilience depends on the strength, talent and commitment of women. We’ve supported women as they’ve established small businesses, irrigated farms, grain banks/seed fairs and constructed flood control gabions and micro dams through Cash for Work(CFW) actions that enabled their communities to be better prepared for floods in future.