Preface

The Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency has a mandate from UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security and the Swedish Government’s National Action Plan for the Resolution. This requires a gender perspective and gender equality efforts to be reflected in all projects and during each phase of disaster and crisis management.

Over the years our perception of these issues has evolved significantly. From being perceived as a controversial issue among some of our co-workers, gender issues are now recognised as a natural element of our international projects in which our support to affected populations is our foremost priority.

In order to prepare personnel at the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency for a better understanding of gender issues in their practical work, they have been trained on integrating a gender perspective into projects. In addition, the countries in which we operate have been analysed from a gender perspective to enable the projects conducted by the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency to be adjusted in accordance with existing local conditions in each country. Field staff also receive training, prior to deployment, on UN Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security and on integrating a gender perspective throughout the project cycle. Moreover, a gender perspective is included in all final reports.

The handbook you are holding has been produced with your work in mind - as project manager, instructor or field staff as part of the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency’s international assistance. It is important that we never forget why we work with international assistance; it is because there are women, men, girls and boys who are in need. And it is our responsibility to ensure that they receive the best help they can get.

Therefore, it is the personal responsibility of all of us who work with international assistance at the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency to consider a gender perspective in our day-to-day work. This handbook will make it easier for you to achieve this objective practically; making projects more effective, and making it easier to reach out to a larger section of the population in need.

Kjell Larsson

Head of Operations Section

Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB)

It is important to take into consideration the needs of the affected population. Will women, girls and boys also be using the bridge when it is dark, thus increasing the risk of being run over?