Gender & Social Equity
GSE is understood and treated as essential in preventing & responding to key risks and challenges whilst contributing to more lasting solutions and sustainable impacts in all the contexts we work, no matter the working area.
Inequality, insecurity, instability, and injustice are on the rise
The interdependent cycle of cause and effect between social inequality, social exclusion, social insecurity, and social injustice requires integrated, strategic, systemic and do no harm approaches. Despite progress, increasing fragility is threatening the livelihoods, wellbeing and rights of those already most affected by discrimination, marginalization, violence and other environmental, social, economic, and political risks.
Inequality begets insecurity, instability and injustice. These alone and together result in an absence of social inclusion, social equity, social cohesion and social justice, in other words peace, be it at the individual, communal, societal or global level.
Medina Banjić, who trained in computer programming in 2016 as part of a Helvetas project in Bosnia-Herzegovina
Our GSE work: People Centred and Self Determined
HELVETAS’ vision of a just world in which all people determine the course of their lives in dignity and security, using environmental resources in a sustainable manner, means we do not regard the people and communities we work with as mere target groups or passive beneficiaries of development assistance or humanitarian aid.
Rather we respect, value, and strengthen the women, men, youth and all people and groups we work with as rights holders, active participants, and contributors to the changes we seek to achieve together with them as primary stakeholders who ultimately should self-determine the transformations we achieve and impacts we incur which will shape and define the quality of their lives.
Our Expertise and Services
We seek to partner with organizations that share our broad organizational values. Our Gender & Social Equity Team provides advisory services both to Helvetas and external clients.
