To promote gender equality, the Coordinator should aim to:

• If possible, identify a gender focal point (FSC member with gender knowledge) who can support the Coordinator with operationalising guidelines and standards. GenCap Advisors (often are deployed to sudden onset or protracted crises) can also support. 
• Circulate relevant materials on gender equality and where possible, advocate for, and follow the guidelines in the Food Security section in the Gender in Humanitarian Action Handbook (IASC, 2018) to support gender sensitive programming and promotion of gender equality. The guidelines include key standards and practical guidance on the key actions for how to integrate gender equality into a food security response (both through “gender mainstreaming” and “targeted actions” - see distinction here). 
• Ensure that sex and age disaggregated data (SADD) is collected during needs assessments and for 5Ws.
• Promote (understand, disseminate, apply) the IASC Gender with Age Marker (2021), especially during the HRP process. This is a tool that can help FSC partners (and the Coordinator) understand how to improve attention to gender and age in for example project submissions. 
• Where possible, help facilitate access to, and engagement in, humanitarian decision-making for women, women leaders and women’s organizations and other at-risk groups.  
• GBV: Advocate for the recommended “essential actions” to promote the inclusion of GBV risk-mitigation efforts, included in the Food Security and Agriculture section (pp. 121-139) of the IASC Guidelines for Integrating GBV Interventions in Humanitarian Action (2015) and its Compendium related to Cash and Voucher Assistance when part of the assistance is provided in Cash or Voucher. 
• See protection section (5.7.4) – gender and GBV is also part of protection. 

See also the recommended FSC Coordinator actions common for all cross-cutting concerns in 5.7.6.

Examples: For Cash/Food for Work activities, consider creating activities, which are more suitable for women (i.e. reflect on the timing on the day, areas for childcare and breastfeeding corners, washroom facilities, etc.). During distribution, organise a separate lane for vulnerable people including pregnant and lactating women (PLW). 

Support: Contact the global Food Security cluster Helpdesk (or GenCap advisor).

Guidance and Resources: 

• Gender Handbook for Humanitarian Action (IASC, 2018) – see especially the Food Security section. See available e-learning resources: IASC Reference Group on Gender and Humanitarian Action and here.
• See also this Gender TIP Sheet for Food Security Cluster (Bangladesh FSC, 2022) and see here for a presentation on Gender Equality and Food Security in Emergencies and a summary of Integrating Gender Equality in Humanitarian Needs Assessments prepared by GenCap for the Ukraine FSLC (2022).
• GBV: The Inter-Agency Minimum Standards for Gender-Based Violence in Emergencies Programming (UNFPA, 2019) – see also GBV good practices and recommendations (GPC, 2019) and WFP GBV Technical Manual (2016). Visit the GBV Guidelines website. For guidance on GBV risk mitigation in cash and voucher programming, see this Toolkit (GBV AoR, 2022).
• The Mainstreaming AAP and Core People-Related Issues in the HPC (gFSC/GNC2015) can help with integration of age, disability, gender and protection in food security programming.
• See also this statement from the Global Cluster Coordinators Group: It's On All Of Us - Collective Responsibility for GBV Risk Mitigation (GCCG, 2022).
• See more resources on food security and gender on the FSC website here.