Availability, Accessibility, Acceptability and Quality framework: A tool to identify potential barriers in accessing services in humanitarian settings

The “Availability, Accessibility, Acceptability, Quality” (AAAQ) framework was originally developed for the healthcare sector,1 but it can also serve as a useful tool for assessing other types of services.2 Barriers that impede access to services – including those that may not be immediately apparent — can increase the risk of multiple forms of gender-based violence (GBV), particularly in humanitarian emergencies. As such, this adapted AAAQ framework, which helps to identify barriers women and girls may face accessing humanitarian aid and services, forms part of UNICEF’s set of tools for GBV risk mitigation.