More than 32 million women and girls of reproductive age are in need of humanitarian assistance, requiring more investment than ever before to match the scale and urgency of today’s crises. Yet, progress to scale contraception in crisis and fragile settings has not kept pace with the escalating threats facing women and girls. This report is a synthesis of approaches that have worked and, if replicated and taken to scale, can meet the contraceptive needs of the millions of women and girls across the humanitarian-development nexus.

This report provides new evidence and builds on previous policy research by the International Rescue Committee (IRC), which for years has called for urgent attention to women and girls’ needs and priorities in humanitarian crises. Building from existing frameworks – including the Call to Action on Protection from GBV in Emergencies, the Generation Equality Forum, and the Grand Bargain – we call on humanitarian actors to fulfil their commitments and increase the prioritisation of GBV interventions in humanitarian crises.

Protracted economic, political and security crises have rendered many countries ill-equipped to respond to COVID-19. Within these fragile contexts, refugees and people displaced by conflict and crisis will be disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. An effective response to COVID-19 requires both global and local solutions. IRC’s advocacy aims to secure funding and operational flexibilities, promote best practices, and address specific threats to the needs of the communities we serve.

In the early morning of February 6, the most severe earthquake Turkey had experienced in almost 100 years also sent shockwaves across northern Syria and parts of Lebanon. Find out more about the crisis.

"The IRC has a real impact on people’s lives. From programs to protect and empower women and girls around the world to programs that help refugees adjust to their new lives in the U.S., the IRC is focused on giving refugees the tools they need to thrive." —Morena Baccarin

Record numbers of people, many fleeing violence and persecution, need humanitarian aid. Learn about the world’s worst crises in 2022 and what can be done to help.