Landen and Eliza Manjolo on motorcycle in MalawiLanden and Eliza Manjolo on motorcycle in MalawiLanden and Eliza Manjolo on motorcycle in Malawi

Gender equality

Gender equality

Why gender equality? Gender inequality is globally the most common form of inequality and remains a major obstacle to the eradication of poverty. We specifically focus on gender equality as a means to significantly reduce inequalities and empower people living in extreme poverty to improve their lives.

Across the world, so many women and girls still do not have access to or control over resources and services. They live in fear of gender-based violence (GBV), are denied education and have no say over decisions in their homes. Gender equality forms a major pillar of Concern’s Strategic Plan (2021-2025) and is a key area of focus for all programmes in livelihoods, health and education. 

And we are seeing an impact.

"We started to realise that a lot of roles in the home can be done by anybody. By sharing these we can see the changes in the welfare of the family and how women are treated."

Livelihood programme participant - Tanzania
Group celebrating 16 Days of Activism
Rukia Mohamed Issack (Project Officer Durable Solutions) and Najma Mohamed (Vice Chair Hanano School Club) facilitated a GBV prevention and awareness raising session. Across Somalia/Somaliland, Concern staff and project participants came together to commemorate #16DaysofActivismAgainstGBV through awareness raising and experience sharing events. Photo: Hassan Isgowe/Concern Worldwide
Two schoolgirls in Sierra Leone at their desks
Zainab Thorlley (8yrs, left) and Isatu Forna (10yrs, centre), students in class 3 at Patiful Mayeppuh SDA Primary School, Tonkolil District, Sierra Leone. Students in schools and adults in communities are being taught about ‘Social and Emotional Learning’ (SEL) and ‘School-related Gender Based Violence Prevention and Response’ (SRGBV). Photo: Michael Duff/Concern Worldwide
Community dialogue session in Sierra Leone
A Community Dialogue session is held monthly in Masokoray Community and facilitated by Concern BLN Officer Salamatu Magdalene. Community Dialogues bring together all members of the community to discuss way to improve gender equality and tackle issues including gender based violence. As part of the sessions community members are encouraged to roll play actions that promote gender equality. Photo: Michael Duff/Concern Worldwide
Two women holding up signs for End Violence Against Women
Bilkisu Jah and Roseann Kanu, Concern Worldwide Freetown. 16 days of Activism 2021, Orange the World: End Violence Against Women, 25th November to 10th December 2021. Photo: Charlotte Woellwarth/Concern Worldwide
Social and emotional learning curriculum booklet
Students at Patiful Mayeppuh SDA Primary School take part in an after school SEL (Social Emotional Learning) session. The session is facilitated by Class 1 teacher Kadiatu Bangura and integrates gender equality issues as well as school related gender based violence (SRGBV). Photo: Michael Duff/Concern Worldwide
Man sweeping during community dialogue session
A Community Dialogue session is held monthly in Masokoray Community and facilitated by Concern BLN Officer Salamatu Magdalene. Community Dialogues bring together all members of the community to discuss way to improve gender equality and tackle issues including gender based violence. As part of the sessions community members are encouraged to role play actions that promote gender equality. Photo: Michael Duff/Concern Worldwide

A closer look at our approach to gender equality

Here are just some of the ways our gender equality programming is helping to change the lives of women, men and children around the world.

Gender sensitive to gender transformative

Our ultimate aim is to move from 'gender-sensitive' to 'gender-transformative' on all programmes. This means working with communities to develop programmes that transform the root causes of gender inequality at many layers of society – from the individual to the institutional and national. Concern has partnered with Sonke Gender Justice to provide technical support and capacity building to our staff on approaches to gender transformation.

Engaging women

Engaging men

Conflict and gender equality

Positive results

Engaging with men doesn’t mean that women lose out. Based on Concern’s positive results using the approach in Tanzania, Liberia and Sierra Leone, we believe that engaging men is an essential element of women’s empowerment so that benefits are brought to children, women and men themselves.

He would say you're a woman, you can't say anything. When we are like this we can't make money. Before we had lots of conflict in the household, and lots of problems. Concern taught us in the training how to manage money together and husbands changed after this. Now we plan together and he doesn’t use the money alone.

Programme participant in DRC
Syria emergency appeal

Turkey-Syria Earthquake Emergency Appeal

  • Earthquakes have caused widespread devastation and loss of life in Turkey (Türkiye) and Syria

  • Millions affected and tens of thousands left homeless

  • Concern Worldwide is on the ground providing shelter, food, water and heating

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