Through a participatory, mixed methods evaluation process, GENFAMI and Fundación Surcos de Vida – the Lead Partner Organization and Lead Learning Partner for the Women’s Voice and Leadership in Humanitarian Settings initiative in Colombia – engaged 100 Women Led Organizations (WLOs) in the region of Nariño to understand their role within the humanitarian system. Nariño has experienced prolonged crises in the form of forced displacement, migratory flows, natural disasters, and an increase in gender-based violence, poverty and inequality.
We surveyed 100 WLOs on their organizational capacities, their needs, and their participation within the humanitarian system. We then conducted qualitative interviews and roundtables with a subset of 36 WLOs. WLOs in Nariño are at the frontline of crises and provide meaningful actions in complex settings such as forced displacement, gender-based violence, natural disasters, and poverty. However, they are not identified by international agencies nor by governmental organizations as humanitarian agents.
The research identified several barriers WLOs experience to participating in the formulation, implementation and evaluation of humanitarian action plans. These organizations have few economic resources and little financing to carry out their actions. Almost half of organizations resort to using their own resources via voluntary self-contributions to minimally fund their operations. The role of WLOs within the humanitarian architecture is extremely limited. They participate in consultative processes, as service operators or implementing pre-designed projects but are not included within the decision-making realm. This participatory research allowed us to learn directly from WLOs and incorporate their perspectives in designing capacity strengthening activities.
