Learning Lab on Sendai Gender Action Plan: Completing the Puzzle for Gender-Responsiveness

As the world faces multiple crises that put immense pressure on communities, achieving gender equality is more vital than ever. The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030 emphasizes the need for an inclusive approach to disaster risk reduction (DRR) that considers the specific vulnerabilities and capacities of different groups, including women, children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities. In March 2024, the Gender Action Plan to support implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 (Sendai GAP) was launched with a renewed focus on accelerating progress toward gender equality and reducing disaster risk.  

The Sendai GAP aims to ensure that disaster risk reduction (DRR) efforts are gender-responsive and that they actively promote and support women's empowerment and leadership. It emphasizes the mutually reinforcing goals of gender equality and disaster risk reduction, as well as recognizes that gender inequalities exacerbate the impacts of disasters and that women's leadership is critical to effective DRR. Despite global recognition of these issues, many DRR initiatives still lack the necessary gender focus. This Learning Lab is designed to address this gap by equipping stakeholders with the knowledge and tools needed to implement the Sendai GAP effectively. It will also look into case studies and experiences in the field. 

Learning Labs are short sessions, with very practical experience and expertise sharing about tools and mechanisms for advancing the DRR agenda. The key objectives of this learning lab are:

1. Foster multi-stakeholder collaborative dialogue: Engage in collaborative discussions with experts and peers to identify challenges, opportunities, and actionable steps for advancing gender equality in DRR efforts in Europe and Central Asia Region.
2. Deeper understanding of the Sendai GAP: Gain a comprehensive overview of the Sendai GAP and its role in enhancing the effectiveness of the Sendai Framework by integrating gender-responsive strategies.
3. Promote women’s leadership in DRR: Discuss opportunities for greater engagement of women and women-led organizations in decision making across all levels of governance, and highlight recommendations for enhancing women’s leadership in DRR.
4. Highlight gender-responsive DRR best practices from the Region: Explore successful experiences that highlight the implementation of gender-responsive approaches in DRR, emphasizing lessons learned and replicable models from Europe and Central Asia.

List of speakers:

1. Ms. İlayda Eskitaşçıoğlu Karavelioğlu, Young Leader for the SDGs endorsed by the United Nations, Co-founder and President of We Need to Talk Association, Türkiye (moderator)
2. Ms. Armine Hayrapetyan, SENDAI Focal Point, and Representative of Ministry of Emergency Situations, Armenia
3. Ivana Vojinovic, Director of the Center for Climate Change, Natural Resources, and Energy at the University of Donja Gorica, Montenegro
4. Şeyda Sever, Founder, Mahalle Afet Gönüllüleri (Neighbourhood Disaster Volunteers), Türkiye