Training Course on Gender Based Violence in Humanitarian Action (GPC014)
Training Course on Gender Based Violence in Humanitarian Action
Professionals working in humanitarian settings require specialized knowledge and practical skills to understand, prevent, and respond to Gender-Based Violence (GBV). Humanitarian crises, including conflict, displacement, natural disasters, and other emergencies, can increase exposure to GBV while creating additional barriers to accessing protection and essential services.
The course focuses on the principles, standards, approaches, and practical tools required to design, implement, coordinate, and monitor effective GBV interventions. Particular attention is given to survivor-centred programming, prevention, risk mitigation, referral pathways, coordination, and prioritizing the safety, dignity, needs, and voices of affected populations.
Course Duration
5 days
Course Objectives
Upon successful completion of the course, participants will be able to:
- Explain key concepts, principles, standards, and frameworks related to GBV in humanitarian action.
- Understand the nature and complexity of GBV within humanitarian and emergency contexts.
- Identify GBV risks, vulnerabilities, and protection concerns among affected populations.
- Apply survivor-centred approaches when designing and implementing GBV interventions.
- Develop practical approaches for GBV prevention and risk mitigation.
- Integrate GBV considerations across different humanitarian sectors and programmes.
- Strengthen referral pathways and access to appropriate services for survivors.
- Apply effective coordination approaches in GBV humanitarian response.
- Use relevant tools, guidance, and good practices to strengthen GBV programming.
- Monitor and evaluate GBV interventions while maintaining ethical and safe approaches to data and information.
Course Outline
Module 1: Module 1: Foundations of Gender-Based Violence
- Understanding gender, sex, gender roles, and social norms
- Definitions and key concepts of Gender-Based Violence
- Forms and manifestations of GBV
- Causes, drivers, and consequences of GBV
- Power, inequality, discrimination, and vulnerability
- Intersectionality and multiple forms of discrimination
- Common myths, misconceptions, and attitudes surrounding GBV
Module 2: Module 2: GBV in Humanitarian Contexts
- Understanding humanitarian crises and emergencies
- Conflict, displacement, disasters, and GBV
- GBV risks among refugees and internally displaced populations
- Risk factors and vulnerabilities in humanitarian settings
- GBV risks across different phases of an emergency
- Barriers to reporting and accessing support services
- Protection concerns affecting women, girls, men, boys, and vulnerable groups
Module 3: Module 3: GBV Risk Analysis, Prevention and Mitigation
- Understanding GBV risk analysis and assessment
- Identifying threats, vulnerabilities, and existing capacities
- Conducting safe and ethical GBV assessments
- GBV prevention approaches in humanitarian settings
- GBV risk mitigation across humanitarian programmes
- Community-based prevention and awareness approaches
- Applying the Do No Harm principle
Module 4: Module 4: Survivor-Centred GBV Response
- Principles of survivor-centred programming
- Safety, dignity, confidentiality, and informed consent
- Respecting survivor choice and autonomy
- Communicating appropriately with GBV survivors
- Providing appropriate first-line support
- Avoiding victim-blaming and re-traumatization
- Addressing barriers to accessing services and protection
Module 5: Module 5: GBV Case Management and Referral Pathways
- Understanding GBV case management
- Identifying essential services for survivors
- Health and medical support
- Psychological and psychosocial support
- Protection, legal, and safety services
- Establishing and strengthening referral pathways
- Safe information sharing, confidentiality, and consent
Module 6: Module 6: GBV Mainstreaming Across Humanitarian Sectors
- Understanding GBV mainstreaming and integration
- Integrating GBV risk mitigation into programme design
- GBV considerations in health and nutrition programmes
- GBV risk mitigation in WASH, shelter, and settlement programming
- Integrating GBV considerations into food security and livelihoods
- GBV considerations in education and community-based programmes
- Strengthening safe, inclusive, and accessible humanitarian services
Module 7: Module 7: GBV Coordination and Humanitarian Programming
- Principles of humanitarian coordination
- Roles and responsibilities of humanitarian actors
- GBV coordination mechanisms and structures
- Working with protection and other humanitarian sectors
- Government, NGO, UN, and community-level coordination
- Strengthening referral and service networks
- Accountability to affected populations and community participation
Module 8: Module 8: GBV Programme Design, Monitoring and Accountability
- Designing effective GBV humanitarian interventions
- Developing programme objectives and indicators
- Integrating GBV into humanitarian needs assessments
- Monitoring GBV prevention and response activities
- Ethical and safe collection and management of GBV data
- Accountability, feedback, and learning mechanisms
- Developing practical GBV action plans for organizational application
Note: The specific content, activities, and duration of each session may be adjusted based on the target audience, learning objectives, and available time.
Training Methodology
The training adopts a participatory and experiential adult-learning approach that builds on participants' existing knowledge and professional experience. Sessions combine presentations, interactive discussions, case studies, group exercises, humanitarian scenarios, practical problem-solving activities, experience sharing, reflection, and action planning. The approach encourages participants to connect technical concepts with real-world humanitarian situations and identify practical applications within their own organizations and programmes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the Training Course on Gender Based Violence in Humanitarian Action course.
This course focuses specifically on GBV prevention, risk mitigation and response inside humanitarian operations — displacement settings, camps and emergencies — while our general GBV course covers programming across development contexts. Many practitioners take both.
GBV and protection officers, camp management and shelter staff, health and WASH colleagues responsible for GBV risk mitigation, and coordinators working within humanitarian clusters and referral pathways.
The IASC GBV Guidelines, the GBV Minimum Standards, survivor-centred case management principles, safe referral pathways, and GBV risk mitigation responsibilities across non-GBV sectors.
The course runs as a five-day intensive: USD 1,200 for classroom cohorts in our training cities and USD 600 for the live online cohort (instructor-led over Zoom, same trainer and materials). Upcoming dates are listed on this page.
Yes — every participant who completes the course receives the Perk Group Africa certificate of completion, carrying a unique verification code that employers can confirm on our certificate verification page.
Click Register on any scheduled cohort on this page and complete the two-minute form — no upfront payment. You will receive a confirmation email with your invoice and, for international participants, invitation-letter support for travel.
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