Daw Aye remembers the day she had to flee her home.

Aishatu and Nana are two remarkable mothers aged 40 and 48, respectively. They live in Gwoza, a garrison town in northeast Nigeria that shelters 60,000 people, many of whom have been displaced by conflict.

“When I put on senahar, I feel happy in myself. I don’t feel sadness in my heart.”

Leaving one's hometown in search of asylum is often a harrowing journey, caused by dire circumstances such as crime, rampant violence, and instability. This departure marks the beginning of a turbulent journey, defined by uncertainty and resilience, as individuals navigate the complex web of immigration policies and seek refuge in unfamiliar lands.

Amina*, a 47-year old mother living in northeast Syria, knows first-hand what it means to have war completely turn your life around — but through this experience, she’s well-versed in making do with whatever is available to her.

Women are more likely to live in poorer households globally than men. Countries where this is evident are predominantly fragile or conflict-affected. In order to meet the Sustainable Development Goals and ensure no one is left behind, women’s economic empowerment must be prioritised and resourced in crisis contexts. Choices, Chances and Safety in Crisis discusses the impact of crisis on women’s economic empowerment and the limitations of recent responses. It proposes a practical model for increasing women’s safety as well as their use and control of resources in crisis contexts. It outlines the preconditions that must be met to genuinely transform harmful gender norms and empower women economically along with examples from IRC’s work. It concludes with recommendations for governments, international actors and the humanitarian sector.

The CARE project will be implemented by four civil society partners from Greece and Italy with expertise in women’s and girls’ empowerment to contribute towards the prevention of gender-based violence (GBV) against women and girls, with a focus on Intimate Partner Violence (IPV).

Despite facing countless hurdles, this all-women team of medical doctors brave long distances and treacherous terrain to bring healthcare to the remotest villages in Afghanistan, reaching women who haven’t had access to health services in up to 50 years.