A new policy paper launched by the International Rescue Committee (IRC) in Yemen issues an urgent call to rethink how funding and partnerships are structured for local women’s organizations delivering critical support to survivors of gender-based violence (GBV).
Directly based on the experiences of Yemeni women leaders, the paper highlights the systemic barriers holding back their lifesaving work — from limited funding to a lack of decision-making power which often prevents their recognition as true partners in humanitarian response.
As evidenced by the fact that the 2025 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan Addendum, released in May, only aims to reach 1% of the total women and girls in need of GBV services due to funding constraints.
As emphasized by the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, the current and unprecedented funding crisis must serve as a catalyst for strengthening local leadership by “ensuring that those closest to the crises have more control over resources ”.
Caroline Sekyewa, IRC’s Country Director in Yemen, says,
“This paper lands at a critical moment, as funding gaps force the closure of safe spaces across Yemen, denying thousands of women and girls’ access to protection, psychosocial support and legal aid. In their own words, the message from Yemeni women’s organizations is clear: if we are serious about protecting women and girls, we must recognize women’s organizations not as subcontractors, but as leaders, partners, and game-changers. INGOs, donors and women’s organizations must seize the moment to scale-up collaboration and explore creative solutions together, to reduce the impact of funding cuts on those in most need.”
Asia Al-Mashraqi, Chairwoman, Sustainable Development Foundation & Chair of the Yemen Women’s Leaders Network (YWLN) says,
“Women’s organizations are reaching survivors no one else can, often in areas where international actors can’t operate. Yet we’re being asked to do it without the tools, funding, or trust to succeed. That is simply unjust. We are not peripheral, we are essential. Active members and key players in the system. If donors and partners truly want to protect Yemeni women and girls, they must invest in those already doing the work—on the frontlines, every day. This paper lays out clear recommendations to take forward together. Now we need action.”
The new policy paper calls for:
1. A shift in power. Donors and international NGOs must embed women’s organizations in coordination and decision-making structures. Localization is not about numbers—it is about who leads and who decides.
2. Reform to funding systems. Calls for proposals must be transparent, inclusive, and accessible to grassroots groups. Budgets must account for core needs like rent, security, and staff salaries—not just direct project costs.
3. Investments in capacity—on local terms. Support should reflect women’s organizations’ self-identified priorities, not external metrics. Larger, well-established national groups should be resourced to mentor and elevate emerging organizations.
4. Fostering peer collaboration. Communities of practice can provide cost-effective platforms for knowledge sharing, innovation, and solidarity—helping to sustain women-led responses as INGOs scale down.
5. Strengthening advocacy. Women’s organizations must be recognized not only as service providers but as leaders. Their perspectives must shape policies, programs, and reforms.
The paper offers a clear and actionable path forward: shift power, invest directly, and put Yemeni women’s leadership at the center of the GBV response. What’s needed now is a clear, collective plan that is led by both national and international actors to ensure women’s organizations can lead, not just participate, in the protection of women and girls.