Beyond Gender: Intersectional Approaches to COVID-19 Response and Recovery

Jun 9, 2021 | by The SEEP WEE Working Group

The impacts of COVID-19 have been felt everywhere, with no country spared. Yet, they have not been felt the same way by everyone. While women are losing their jobs at higher rates than men, experiencing increased care burdens and domestic violence, and struggling to maintain their businesses, evidence also suggests disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on men’s health. Further, the overlay of other identities including race, disability, sexual orientation, age, socio-economic status, geography, migration status and other pre-existing structural inequalities and conditions intensifies the impact of COVID-19.

A recent compendium developed by the SEEP Network’s WEE Working Group highlights how the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed varying vulnerabilities of women and men in different groups based on diverse identities and why an intersectional feminist approach to pandemic response efforts within international development is critical. Speakers from Promundo, FHI360, YouthLead and Oxfam discussed how their organizations are working to ensure COVID-19 response and recovery efforts better target and address distinctive needs of those with intersectional identities such as persons with disabilities, LGBTQIA+ communities, unpaid and paid care workers, and youth and elderly populations.

Moderator

Aïssa Boodhoo
Gender Justice Communications and Learning Convenor, Oxfam GB

Aïssa Boodhoo is a member of the SEEP WEE Working group and one of the co-authors of the Intersectionality Compendium. She currently works on Oxfam’s Women’s Economic Empowerment Knowledge Hub, connecting Oxfam’s WEE portfolio in over 45 countries. Most recently, she coordinated a multi-lingual learning series showcasing Oxfam’s rich practitioner knowledge on unpaid care and domestic work. She has led knowledge management and learning initiatives on linkages between WEE and gender-based violence, young women’s entrepreneurship and the gendered effects of Covid-19. Ms. Boodhoo has contributed extensively to anti-racist action plans and frameworks. In her previous roles, she has conducted gender analyses around UNSCR 1325, supported women’s peacebuilding campaigns and advocacy and researched on women’s leadership and intersectionality in the Ghanaian shea butter value chain. Aïssa was a Pathy Family Foundation Fellow in 2016 and has a B. Arts Sc. from McMaster University and an MA from University of Ottawa. Keep up with the WEE Knowledge Hub by checking out their Learning Collection or subscribing to the WEE & Gender Newsletter.

Speakers

Robyn Dayton
Senior Technical Advisor, FHI 360

Robyn Dayton, MPH, is a Senior Technical Advisor with FHI 360. Her previous work in direct service provision includes supporting survivors of violence through rape crisis care. A credentialed secondary school teacher, Robyn has worked both internationally and domestically to develop and implement sexual and reproductive health trainings and resources designed to improve outcomes among adolescents and key populations: men who have sex with men, people who inject drugs, sex workers, and transgender people. She currently serves as the Gender Advisor for HIV programming at FHI 360—managing a portfolio of activities to address structural and social barriers to HIV prevention, care, and treatment. Robyn has more than fifteen years of experience in public health, including researching, developing, and supporting the implementation of comprehensive and inclusive gender-based violence programs in the United States, Latin America, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Robyn is passionate about the intersection of gender and racial equity, social justice, community leadership, and public health.

Aapta Garg
Senior Program Officer, Promundo

Aapta Garg is a Senior Program Officer at Promundo, her role is to support programmatic initiatives across the organization’s thematic areas. She focuses primarily on Promundo’s programs in Latin America and the Caribbean managing multiple programs and initiatives to integrate gender-transformative approaches to advance gender equality and prevent violence. In her role as Program Officer, she designs programming and curricula, facilitates capacity-building trainings, monitors and evaluates programmatic impacts, and coordinates multi-stakeholder projects.

Aapta also manages several programs around fatherhood, caregiving, violence prevention, and building capacity of local grassroots organizations and activists. She also serves as the technical co-coordinator of the MenCare Campaign. She previously worked at Vital Voices Global Partnership as Program Coordinator for Latin America and the Caribbean, coordinating the implementation of trainings, programs, and emergency assistance grants related to gender-based violence and human trafficking. Prior to her time at Vital Voices, she worked for four years as a Community Liaison and Legal Assistant at MFY Legal Services where she oversaw projects related to community development and advocacy on behalf of low-income New Yorkers. Aapta received her Master’s Degree in International Development with a focus on Gender and Development from American University’s School of International Service. She also has a BA in Political Science and Hispanic Studies from Vassar College.

Asonele Kotu
Founder, FemConnect

Asonele Kotu has over 10 years of experience as a PR and Marketing professional; she has worked with various organisations in community development, charity, SaaS/Cloud-based solutions and solar technology. She is the founder of FemConnect; a women's health tech startup creating digital solutions for help with period poverty drives; creating easier access to feminine hygiene and family planning services the same way we order food online. FemConnect won the 2019 "Apps for Africa" competition, amongst 50 tech startups. She is a former YouthLead Ambassador for South Africa in 2020 and Youth Lead Ambassador Advisor for the 2021 ambassador cohort. Asonele is very passionate about creating digital solutions to help women manage their menstrual hygiene, GBV support and easier access to healthcare.

Annie Sloman
Associate Country Director (Program Director), Oxfam in Timor-Leste

Annie Sloman is an international development professional with over 18-years’ experience in the Asia-Pacific region. She specializes in inclusive development, program design and management, capacity and organizational development, monitoring, evaluation and learning, advocacy and community and community cultural development. Annie is currently the Associate Country Director at Oxfam in Timor-Leste.

This webinar was hosted by the SEEP Women's Economic Empowerment Working Group.