Take five: “Gender equality is not a ‘nice-to-have’ in crisis response - it is essential to ensure that no one is left behind”

Tetiana Konovalova is Deputy Director of Ukraine’s Gender Bureau, a leading NGO advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment. Originally from the Poltava region, she joined the civil society sector after the full-scale invasion in February 2022. At the same time, the Gender Bureau expanded its mission to include humanitarian response, pairing its gender expertise with on-the-ground emergency support. In this regard, Tetiana Konovalova spoke at the side event “Fostering Resilient Partnerships for Inclusive Crisis Response,” organized by the UN Women Regional Office in Europe and Central Asia during the 2025 Regional Forum on Sustainable Development in Geneva. In this interview, she reflects on the persistent gaps in crisis response and preparedness, the risks of not adopting inclusive and gender-responsive approaches in crises, and how we can protect progress made on gender equality.

As humanitarian needs grow amid rising insecurity and climate-related disaster risks in the UNECE region, what are the biggest gaps in crisis response and preparedness — especially when it comes to addressing the needs of women and marginalized groups? 

These gaps are not isolated; they are systemic and structural, embedded in planning, access, protection, and inclusion. Addressing them requires political will, increased targeted investment, and a cultural shift towards inclusivity and gender responsiveness across the humanitarian sector.

A major deficiency is the persistent lack of gender-responsive planning. Effective humanitarian response relies on accurate and comprehensive data - yet emergency systems across the UNECE region consistently fail to collect and utilize sex-, age-, and disability-disaggregated data (SADDD), along with vulnerability indicators. This gap makes it nearly impossible to meet the diverse needs of affected populations. For instance, distributing the same food kits to everyone ignores the specific needs of pregnant or breastfeeding women, people with disabilities, or the elderly. Without SADDD, these nuanced needs remain invisible, worsening inequalities and vulnerabilities. 

Additionally, women, LGBTQ+ people, ethnic minorities, migrants, Roma communities, and people with disabilities are often excluded from decision-making in crisis preparedness and response. When their voices are sidelined, humanitarian interventions risk being not only ineffective but also harmful.

Access to essential services is another area of stark inequality. Women and marginalized groups often face obstacles in accessing healthcare, including sexual and reproductive health, legal aid, safe shelters, and psychosocial support. These services are vital in times of crisis but are frequently underfunded or deprioritized, compounding risk and delaying recovery.

Closing these systemic gaps requires a comprehensive and multifaceted approach: improve data collection and application, center marginalized voices in decision-making, treat GBV prevention and response as core - not peripheral - to emergency planning, and apply intersectional frameworks that recognize overlapping vulnerabilities, such as a migrant woman with a disability navigating a flood emergency.

What are the risks of not adopting inclusive and gender-responsive approaches in crises and what have we learned about the impact of such omissions?

The most immediate risk is the deepening of pre-existing vulnerabilities and inequalities. Emergencies often exacerbate gender-based violence, including domestic abuse, sexual assault, trafficking, and exploitation. Without dedicated services or safe reporting mechanisms, survivors have nowhere to turn. This was starkly evident during the COVID-19 pandemic when domestic violence cases surged just as shelters and support systems were shut down or severely under-resourced.

Marginalized groups – Roma communities, LGBTQ+ individuals, displaced population, and people with disabilities – faced additional barriers in accessing information, relief services, and protection. For instance, displaced LGBTQ+ people may face discrimination and violence in refugee camps or shelters, while people with disabilities may be unable to access essential services due to infrastructure and communication barriers.

Neglecting gender and inclusion leads to ineffective responses and wasted resources. A one-size-fits-all approach to crisis response doesn’t work. Also, failing to recognize and support the leadership of women in crisis-affected communities wastes a critical resource. Women are often first responders -  mobilizing care, sharing data, supporting their communities - yet their contributions are too often undervalued.

Exclusion weakens both the immediate response and long-term recovery. The lesson is clear: inclusion is not an optional add-on - it is essential for effective, ethical, and sustainable crisis response. Without it, we undermine humanitarian principles: saving lives, restoring dignity, and building back better.

In your experience, what makes a humanitarian partnership truly effective, and how can we move from good intentions to coordinated and lasting action? 

Truly effective humanitarian partnerships are defined not by the number of actors involved but by how equitably, inclusively, and sustainably they work together. In the UNECE region, where military conflict, climate shocks, and social inequality continue to escalate, the need for strong, community-led collaboration is more urgent than ever.

At the heart of successful partnerships is the unwavering commitment to equity and shared leadership. This means acknowledging and addressing power imbalances between international actors and local communities. Local and women-led organizations must be treated not as implementers or beneficiaries, but as equal co-leaders. “Nothing about us without us” must move from slogan to standard practice.

Funding models are also crucial. Too often, traditional humanitarian financing is short-term and project-based, forcing local actors to constantly adapt to shifting donor priorities. This creates instability and diverts precious resources from programming to fundraising. In contrast, effective partnerships offer predictable, multi-year, and flexible funding that supports the entire crisis cycle – from preparedness to response and recovery. This enables local organizations to retain skilled staff, invest in systems, and respond more effectively.

Ultimately, effective humanitarian partnerships aren’t built in the midst of a crisis. They are rooted in trust, shared values, local leadership, and a long-term vision for inclusive impact. Marginalized communities are not just vulnerable - they are essential partners in resilience-building.

With growing geopolitical tensions and shrinking humanitarian space, how can we protect gains made on gender equality and keep gender-responsive crisis response high on the agenda?

We are living in a time of rising authoritarianism, shrinking civic space, and escalating conflict. The progress on gender equality – earned through years of tireless advocacy – is increasing at risk, particularly in humanitarian contexts where urgency can overshadow the importance of equity.

Yet we’ve learned a powerful truth: gender equality is not a ‘nice-to-have’ in crisis response - it is essential. It saves lives, strengthens systems, and ensures no one is left behind.

To safeguard these hard-won gains and ensure that gender-responsive crisis response remains a central priority, we must treat gender equality as a non-negotiable pillar of humanitarian strategy - from planning and budgeting to decision-making and delivery. 

Crucially, humanitarian programming must be anchored to international frameworks such as CEDAW, the Women, Peace and Security agenda, and Sustainable Development Goal 5. Even in the most fragile environments, we must remain accountable to these commitments.

Now is not the time to push back. We must act decisively to protect the hard-won gains and build a more just, equitable future for all. Anything less risks undoing decades of progress – and leaving millions behind when they need support most.

What message would you like to send to women responding to crises in their own communities?

To the women responding to crises - whether leading a local shelter, advocating for displaced families, running health clinics, coordinating food distributions, or simply holding the community together - I want to say this: You are the backbone of humanitarian response. You are not only saving lives — you are rebuilding hope, dignity, and the future.

We see you. We stand with you. And we commit to amplifying your voices, backing your work with real resources, and creating systems that reflect your leadership — not just in times of crisis, but always.

You are not just part of the solution. You are the solution.