April 11, 2024 — The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is releasing the annual Gender Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (GEDI) report, a yearly highlight of the IRC’s GEDI programs and initiatives that drive impactful change in the humanitarian sector. The IRC’s commitment to diversity and inclusion not only strengthens organizational resilience but also enhances the ability to deliver innovative and contextually relevant solutions to people and communities affected by crisis and conflict.
The report offers some of the challenges and opportunities in promoting GEDI within the IRC and beyond. Through research and analysis, such as from the IRC People Survey, data-driven insights inform the IRC’s strategies. Some of these programs that illustrate who we are, what we do, and what we say and how we engage are:
- The Pathways Program, launched in Kenya, Uganda, South Sudan, Somalia, Nigeria, Yemen, and Chad, addressed the representation of women in leadership roles within the IRC. The program connected 500 female middle managers with professionals across the organization, which led to career guidance, skills development, and network expansion.
- Over 100 Women @ Work groups globally – employee-led groups that aim to remove barriers women face at the workplace – make the IRC a more gender equal, safe, and respectful place to work. In Afghanistan, W@W has facilitated national women staff to manage field offices and departments. In Mali, W@W has introduced childcare solutions, including daycare services and breastfeeding support, to help mothers balance work and family responsibilities. These initiatives align with GEDI principles to offer the support and infrastructure for women to succeed personally and professionally.
- In partnership with the IKEA Foundation, the IRC launched the Re:Build program in 2021 in East Africa. Re:Build targeted 20,00 refugees and host community members, helping them sustainably reach economic self-reliance and social cohesion through a trial program where clients received a cash grant to start or improve a small business. The Rebuild team took various initiatives to better addresses the needs of marginalized and underprivileged individuals, especially those facing systemic discrimination based on gender, age, or disability status. This includes conducting intersectional GEDI analysis and introducing the EA$E-Y program in Nairobi, which focused on enhancing women’s leadership and tackling gender dynamics.
- The Language Services Unit, launched in 2023, is the IRC’s in-house translation service that aims to ensure that all staff, irrespective of their language background, have equal access to organizational content and can effectively engage in all aspects of the IRC’s work. The LSU has established standardized terminology and the promotion of inclusive language in translations.
Cica Dadjo, the IRC’s Chief GEDI Officer:
“The IRC is proud to highlight the collaborative efforts and partnerships that underscore our GEDI efforts. From internal and external stakeholders, these collaborations serve as powerful catalysts for change, amplifying our collective impact and advancing GEDI within the humanitarian sector. However, we approach this journey with humility, recognizing that the work is far from complete. The release of the GEDI annual report is a time to pause and reflect on what has been done but the work that still lies ahead – and the imperative to remain steadfast in our commitment to progress. We invite all stakeholders to engage with the insights shared in the report, to share its findings widely, and to explore opportunities for collaboration.”