Applications for the 2023 cohort of the GBV risk mitigation online course are now closed.
If you are interested in applying for the next cohort currently planned for 2024, kindly register here to stay informed.
Applications for the 2023 cohort of the GBV risk mitigation online course are now closed.
If you are interested in applying for the next cohort currently planned for 2024, kindly register here to stay informed.
Building upon more than five years of rolling out the IASC GBV Guidelines and two successful cohorts of the GBV risk mitigation online course (2021 and 22), the inter-agency GBV Guidelines Reference Group[1] is pleased to announce an online course for non-GBV specialized humanitarian actors, on integrating GBV risk mitigation interventions in humanitarian action. This informational announcement offers an overview of the online course.
GBV risk mitigation comprises a range of activities within humanitarian response that aim to first identify GBV risks and then take specific actions to reduce those risks. ALL humanitarian actors, regardless of mandate or sector, have a responsibility to mitigate GBV risks in their work keeping with the Centrality of Protection and principle of Do No Harm.
COURSE CONTENT & STRUCTURE
This course is divided into a series of topic-specific learning units that will equip participants with the knowledge and practical skills to integrate GBV risk mitigation into humanitarian action. It is not mandatory to take all learning units. Applicants will be asked to indicate their preferred selections in the online course application.
The GBV risk mitigation online course will be run in real time and as such will be highly interactive.
[1] The GBV Guidelines Reference Group is comprised of approximately 15 member agencies: Action Against Hunger, CARE, CDC, GBV AoR, IMC, IOM, Irish Consortium on GBV, IRC, NRC, Oxfam, Save the Children, UNFPA, UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP, and WRC.
Unit | Topic | Timeline | |
---|---|---|---|
Orange learning unit | Mandatory | Course orientation & overview of GBV risk mitigation | 2 weeks: 20-31 March 2023 |
Green learning unit | Optional | Integrating GBV risk mitigation across the Humanitarian Program Cycle | 10 weeks: 31 March - 9 June 2023 |
Blue & Red learning units | Optional | Integrating GBV risk mitigation in resource mobilization & advocacy | 3 weeks: 9-30 June 2023 |
Please see below for additional details on the flow of the course and the objectives of each of the learning units. An online course on responding to GBV disclosures will be announced separately and run later this year.
COURSE CANDIDATES
This course is designed for NON-gender/GBV or Protection specialized staff. Humanitarian staff from all other technical sectors (i.e.: Food Security, WASH, Shelter…) with an interest to learn more about GBV risk mitigation are encouraged to apply.
COURSE MODALITIES & TIME COMMITMENT
The e-learning course will be accompanied by roughly weekly one-hour webinars or office hours delivered by subject matter expert facilitators. The selected cohort will learn together, from the facilitators and from each other - via videos, assignments, webinars, discussions and peer group work – throughout the duration of the course. Between self-paced e-learning and weekly webinars, it is anticipated that participants will need to spend approximately 5-6 hours per week on the course in total. Flexibility will be built in for major holidays that occur during the duration of the course.
LANGUAGE
The course is currently offered in English only, but French and Spanish language versions are in the pipeline.
PARTICIPATION COSTS
With generous support from CARE, this course is free of cost and open to all NON-gender/GBV/protection specialized humanitarian staff across all sectors around the globe.
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Course applications will be accepted until 7 February 2023 through this form. Accepted participants will be notified by no later than 1 March 2023.
ANNEX
As noted above, this course is divided into a series of topic-specific learning units that will equip participants with the knowledge and practical skills to integrate GBV risk mitigation into humanitarian action. This annex provides additional details on the flow of the course and the specific learning objectives of the GBV risk mitigation online course learning units.
Overview of GBV Risk Mitigation Online Course Learning Units

Orange learning unit objectives
Course orientation and overview of GBV risk mitigation (mandatory)

By the end of the Orange (orientation) learning unit (this one), learners should be able to:
- Understand how to navigate and use the Eduflow platform;
- Begin to meet other course participants and develop a community of learners;
- Understand the definition of GBV and become familiar with GBV risks in emergencies and within their sector/agency programming; and
- Describe the concept of GBV risk mitigation and key tools such as the IASC GBV Guidelines, including their application and relevance to programming.
PLEASE NOTE: The Orange unit is the only mandatory unit, however, it MUST be paired with at least one of the other units. It is not possible to take the Orange unit as a standalone. If your application to this course is successful, you must enroll in the Orange unit AND at least one other learning unit.
Green learning unit objectives
Integrating GBV risk mitigation across the Humanitarian Program Cycle (optional)

By the end of the Green (HPC) learning unit, learners should be able to:
- Understand how to identify GBV risks within sector programming;
- Understand and learn to apply principles of safe and ethical data collection, information sharing and analysis of GBV risks to improve programming.
- Identify entry points for GBV risk mitigation interventions;
- Learn strategies to effectively mitigate GBV risks within sector programs to improve outcomes; and
- Engage meaningfully with women, girl, and other at-risk groups to reduce risk and improve safety.
Blue learning unit objectives
Integrating GBV risk mitigation in resource mobilization (optional)

By the end of the Blue (resource mobilization) learning unit, learners should be able to:
- Understand why and how to integrate GBV risk identification and mitigation measures in each element of a proposal, including focus on donor-specific GBV risk mitigation requirements and how GBV risk mitigation is noted in specific donor guidelines; and
- Build a solid understanding of GBV risk mitigation budgeting/staffing needs and rationales.
NOTE: the blue and red learning units will be combined for the 2023 course offering.
Red learning unit objectives
GBV risk mitigation advocacy (optional)

By the end of the Red (advocacy) learning unit, learners should be able to:
- Understand the importance of advocacy for GBV risk mitigation;
- Learn how to develop core GBV risk mitigation messages for advocacy;
- Understand how various policy frameworks (specifically Call to Action and the GBV Accountability Framework) can be used to support advocacy for GBV risk mitigation; and
- Be able to effectively advocate for GBV risk mitigation with various partners, including donors, CO and sector leadership, even in the face of skepticism.
NOTE: the blue and red learning units will be combined for the 2023 course offering.
Please note there is also a Purple learning unit which focuses on how non-GBV specialized actors can safely and appropriately respond to a GBV disclosure. This unit will be offered later in 2023 (additional details are forthcoming). Participants who have taken the orange learning unit in March 2023 will not need to repeat the unit prior to enrolling in the purple unit.