Dakar: Across West and Central Africa, humanitarian crises are impacting lives in profoundly unequal ways. For women and girls, conflict and displacement present heightened risks of violence, loss of livelihoods, and barriers to essential services. This World Humanitarian Day highlights five strategies employed by humanitarian workers and women-led organizations to address these challenges, from safeguarding women at risk of violence to helping them rebuild their lives with dignity.
According to African Press Organization, humanitarian actors are often tasked with doing more with fewer resources. As needs grow and resources dwindle, fewer women and girls can be reached with the protection and support they need. An estimated 55 million people in West and Central Africa are expected to face acute food insecurity this year, with crises in areas like the Central Sahel, north-east Nigeria, the Central African Republic, and eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo remaining severely underfunded. In north-east Nigeria, women and children, particularly girls, account for 83 percent of those needing humanitarian aid, underscoring the disproportionate impact on them.
Humanitarian crises exacerbate existing inequalities, exposing women and girls to increased risks of violence and exclusion from essential services. During the 2026 Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, women and girls accounted for 53.4 percent of confirmed cases. In north-east Nigeria, nearly 60 percent of those needing humanitarian assistance are women and girls, who also make up 55 percent of those displaced. In the Central African Republic, women and girls represent 96 percent of reported gender-based violence cases. UN Women humanitarian workers strive to ensure that gender equality and the priorities of women and girls remain central to response efforts.
For women displaced by conflict, protection must extend beyond physical safety to include resources, opportunities, and sustained support for rebuilding their lives. In Mali, displaced women have found ways to regain their dignity and independence, with initiatives like UN Women's Second Chance Education program in Cameroon offering pathways to education and employment. This approach is vital for advancing rights, resilience, and lasting peace.
Women play crucial roles in preventing violence, resolving disputes, and rebuilding trust in conflict-affected communities. Their participation can transform how communities respond to conflict and build peace. Regional workshops and local peace committees have empowered women to take active roles in peacebuilding, demonstrating their capacity to transform communities when supported.
Finally, women-led organizations are essential in connecting women and girls to protection and services, especially in areas with limited humanitarian access. However, funding cuts are threatening their work, with significant staff losses reported globally. Sustaining these local actors is critical for protecting women and girls in protracted crises, as they are not only beneficiaries of aid but also essential participants in humanitarian response and peacebuilding.