In this episode of the UNICEF GBViE podcast, Caroline Masboungi is discussing with Masumi Yamashina who works as a CP specialist with UNICEF and has been leading GBV risk mitigation across UNICEF-led clusters including Global WASH cluster since 2017. They are talking about how to mitigate risk of GBV and address needs of women and girls in WASH programming in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Armed conflict, natural disasters and other humanitarian emergencies can significantly alter a community’s traditional water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) practices. During an emergency, well-designed WASH programmes and facilities can help to keep affected populations safe from violence. Conversely, WASH programming that is poorly planned and insensitive to gender dynamics in a given social and cultural context can exacerbate risk of exposure to sexual and other forms of gender-based violence (GBV). This is particularly true for women, girls and other at-risk groups,1 who may be disproportionately affected by WASH issues. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, these needs and risks are exacerbated. This episode looks further into how the pandemic affects the needs of women and girls linked to WASH programming and what can be done to mitigate these risks.

Available resources mentioned on the podcast:

• Video on GBV risk mitigation in WASH for COVID-19 pandemic
• UNICEF, Managing the impact of COVID-19 on menstrual health and hygiene
• Period don’t stop for pandemics – What COVID-19 means for MHH
• Integrating Menstrual Hygiene Management into Humanitarian Response toolkit
• UNICEF, Guide on Menstrual Health and Hygiene
• GWC resource center – Gender or Vulnerable population
• GBV Guidelines COVID-19 resource page
• UNICEF EAPRO Guidance for Gender Integration in the COVID-19 WASH Response
• MHM day website
• Period tracker app
• COVID-19 Course on Integrating Gender Based Violence Risk Mitigation