Women are more likely to live in poorer households globally than men. Countries where this is evident are predominantly fragile or conflict-affected. In order to meet the Sustainable Development Goals and ensure no one is left behind, women’s economic empowerment must be prioritised and resourced in crisis contexts. Choices, Chances and Safety in Crisis discusses the impact of crisis on women’s economic empowerment and the limitations of recent responses. It proposes a practical model for increasing women’s safety as well as their use and control of resources in crisis contexts. It outlines the preconditions that must be met to genuinely transform harmful gender norms and empower women economically along with examples from IRC’s work. It concludes with recommendations for governments, international actors and the humanitarian sector.

The geography of poverty is changing. Extreme poverty is increasingly concentrated in places characterized by fragility and violent conflict: by 2030, 85 percent of the extreme poor—some 342 million people—will live in fragile and conflict-affected states.1 Yet just one in five fragile states are on track to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).2 Meaningful progress on the goal of reducing global extreme poverty requires meeting the development needs of vulnerable populations in fragile contexts; but assistance in these contexts has traditionally been limited to short-term humanitarian aid, ill-equipped to address underlying development challenges. World Bank leadership, staff, and shareholders recognize that protracted crises and associated mass displacement and chronic extreme hunger, as well as threats from sudden-onset emergencies such as climate disasters and pandemics, threaten development progress. Driving progress in these complex environments is the only way that the World Bank will meet its twin goals of reducing global poverty and improving shared prosperity, and address the underlying drivers of some of the world’s most protracted crises.

2019 is a pivotal year for the SDGs. Heads of State will for the first time since 2015 attend the High-level Political Forum (HLPF) on the SDGs. This is the moment to review progress and revise our strategy before it is too late.

The International Rescue Committee responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and reclaim control of their future. We are proud to present our 2018 Annual Report, which offers a glimpse into our work—and the impact of generous support from governments, corporations, foundations and individuals.

Policy Brief - Lessons from Nepal, Sierra Leone and South Sudan

Lessons from Nepal, Sierra Leone and South Sudan

This briefing assesses the impact of the law on refugee women’s right to work and access economic opportunities in high refugee hosting countries.

Ahead of the Global Refugee Forum David Miliband's writes to EU leaders urging them to address the glaring gaps in Europe’s own response to migration.

The International Rescue Committee’s Emergency Watchlist 2019 highlights the countries we believe are at greatest risk of experiencing the worst humanitarian crises over the coming year.

The IRC has joined 15 other NGOs in an open letter to the Prime Minister for Greece that underscores the critical gap which exists in children's access to safe accommodation on the Greek islands.