In collaboration with UNICEF Indonesia, we are conducting a comprehensive mixed-method gender study. The study will identify bottlenecks and barriers that reproduce gender inequalities. It will also identify opportunities and entry points to advance gender equality and women and girls’ empowerment in communities. We will assess how these existing gender dynamics affected access and utilisation of essential services during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.
The impacts of COVID-19 have been deeply gendered, exacerbating existing gender-based constraints, risks and vulnerabilities, including increased violence against women and girls, unpaid care workload and higher job losses and unemployment amongst women. The need for a thorough analysis is therefore urgent to ensure interventions and economic recovery responses are both gender-just and gender-responsive, and not leaving anyone worse off than before the crisis.
In completion of the study, we will utilise our findings to propose actionable recommendations, adjustments and changes to the Government of Indonesia and UNICEF’s response and recovery plans.