“Having More Women Humanitarian Leaders Will Help Transform The Humanitarian System”: Challenges and Opportunities for Women Leaders in Conflict and Humanitarian Health

Abstract

Background It is estimated that over 40 percent of the half a million humanitarian workers who provide frontline care during emergencies, wars and disasters, are women. Women are at the forefront of improving health for conflict-affected populations through service delivery, education and capacity strengthening, advocacy and research. Women are also disproportionately affected by conflict and humanitarian emergencies. The growing evidence base demonstrating excess female morbidity and mortality reflects the necessity of evaluating the role of women in leadership driving health research, policy and programmatic interventions in conflict-related humanitarian contexts. Despite global commitments to improving gender equality, the issue of women leaders in conflict and humanitarian health has been given little or no attention.Methods A desk-based literature review of academic and grey sources was conducted followed by thematic analysis.Results There is very limited evidence on women leaders in conflict and humanitarian health. But some data shows that women have leadership skills that help to support more inclusive solutions which are incredibly important in this sector. However, deeply imbedded discrimination against women at the organisational, cultural, social, financial and political levels is exacerbated in conflict which makes it more challenging for women to progress in such settings. Building on the available opportunities and initiatives and on inspirational experiences of the limited number of women leaders in this field, recommendations for empowering and supporting women leadership in conflict health are presented.Conclusion Advocating for women leaders in conflict and health in the humanitarian sector, governmental bodies, academia and the global health community is crucial to increasing effective interventions that adequately address the complexity and diversity of humanitarian crises.Key Messages:· More women leaders can transform the humanitarian system to better meet the health needs of those affected by conflict and humanitarian emergencies· Women are significantly under-represented in the most senior humanitarian leadership roles· Patriarchal attitudes restrict women’s aspiration to becoming leaders in several conflict-affected societies· Humanitarian leadership teams that are more diverse and inclusive perform better· Organisational culture across the conflict and humanitarian health domain significantly hinders women pursuing leadership roles· Inclusive environments to enable women to become leaders creates broader understanding of the global health system