Turkey and Syria earthquake: evidence-based innovations and guidance for acute crisis response.

We are Elrha, a force for change in the humanitarian community. The research and innovation we support equips the humanitarian community with the knowledge of what works, so people affected by crises get the right help when they need it most.
Our purpose is clear: to empower the humanitarian community to improve humanitarian response. We make this happen by supporting and championing the outcomes of robust research and proven innovations.
We empower the humanitarian community. Find out how we can support you...

Why Gender-based Violence (GBV)?

Globally, an estimated one in three women will experience physical or sexual abuse in her lifetime.

There is growing recognition that people affected by crises can experience various forms of GBV during conflict, natural disasters and displacement. In these settings, existing support structures and prevention mechanisms are often compromised, while the risk of abuse and violence of all kinds increases, in particular for women and girls.

Despite this, the issue of GBV in emergencies has too often been overlooked during times of crises, or not considered to be a humanitarian need. Despite initiatives over the past ten years to implement GBV programmes in emergencies, the practical difficulties are complex and context specific.

Anwar, the Syrian mother of five who sought refuge in Ramtha. Credit: Timea Fauszt/International Rescue Committee

In 2015, we realised the potential for innovation to improve humanitarian GBV was relatively unexplored and there was a lack of evidence as to what works.

We set about exploring this problem, beginning with the first ever GBV Gap Analysis: Opportunities for Innovation. This looked into the primary needs in humanitarian GBV where innovation could best support.

Since then, we’ve created new and targeted innovation approaches to tackle GBV and we’ve included the insights of people affected where appropriate and possible.

What we do

  1. We conduct research on the most pressing gaps in GBV programming and identify areas where innovation and research can really have an impact.
  2. We take a flexible, ethical and collaborative approach as a donor. We know that research and innovation takes time and we support our GBV projects to continually assess their work and pivot if needed to get the best result.
  3. We work with our grantees and the wider humanitarian community to create and share practical tools and guidance.
  4. We collaborate to drive adoption and change in the system to support wider improvements to humanitarian GBV programming.

Our current GBV work

GBV Gap Analysis 2.0

This year, we are funding a Gap Analysis that will help identify the most pressing gaps, or needs, to be addressed by the humanitarian community working to end gender-based violence (GBV).

The GBV Gap Analysis 2.0 will build on the work of the original GBV Gap Analysis published in 2016. It will expand the global situational analysis conducted to encompass GBV prevention, risk mitigation and response, and identify the most pressing gaps, or needs, to be addressed. In doing so, the GBV Gap Analysis 2.0 should increase attention to the priorities of women, girls and GBV practitioners affected by crisis.

Convening our Gender-based Violence Technical Working Group (TWG)

Our HIF’s Technical Working Groups (TWGs) provide a greater depth of technical expertise in the thematic areas we focus on, including innovation for GBV in emergencies. Previously the GBV focus area has been guided by an Advisory Group, but we have now formalised its governance structure by building a TWG.

In November 2019, our HIF programme facilitated this transition to the TWG by convening technical experts who strive to represent the complex needs of innovation for GBV. The TWG members have varied GBV expertise such as: response, risk mitigation, prevention, in addition to gender, empowerment, women’s rights, health and protection.

Our GBV Technical Working Group (TWG)

Our GBV Technical Working Group (TWG) will help guide and inform our GBV work, from advising on exploratory pieces for the global community of practice, to refining our calls for innovation funding proposals.

Meet our TWG members

Our Gender-based Violence Tools & Research

Report Gender-based Violence

Innovation to improve monitoring and evaluation for humanitarian GBV programming

Report Gender-based Violence

Gender Based Violence Research Methodologies in Humanitarian Settings

Report Gender-based Violence

Gender-Based Violence Interventions: Opportunities for Innovation

Report Gender-based Violence, Inclusion of People with Disabilities and Older People

Rapid review of disability and older age inclusion in GBV

Manual Gender-based Violence

Innovation Challenge Handbook: driving the adoption of GBV M&E approaches

Our GBV Innovation Projects

Our GBV Research Studies

Angela Francis

Innovation Manager, Elrha

We know that GBV (gender-based violence) is a widespread issue stemming from gender inequality, and that it occurs- and is often exacerbated- in humanitarian contexts. Despite this, efforts to end GBV in emergencies are underfunded and it is a constant challenge to tackle this complex violation of human rights. That's why I'm extremely proud that we contribute to addressing GBV through both our research and innovation programmes. I'm passionate about exploring how innovation can bring new and improved solutions for women and girls, survivors, practitioners, and the global community of practice, and how we can contribute to ending GBV by building an evidence base to support best practices and to ultimately prioritise GBV as a critical humanitarian issue.

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