Rapid Gender Analysis: Assessment Tools

Field Observation[1]

Purpose: Field observations can be used to understand the gender roles of women, men, boys and girls in practice, as well as to identify protection risks.

Tool Notes: You should not fill in the questionnaire while walking around insecure areas; rather, take mental note of questions and observations and fill in the form later after moving to a safer location.
Some questions may not be items that you can observe – for example, night lighting. These are questions you may want to crosscheck by asking on-the-spot informants. These questions are indicated with an asterisk (*).

Geographic Location: Observer(s):

Date: Setting:

Is there night lighting? Yes No
Considerations: If yes, is it 1) functioning and is it 2) powered every night?* Are there particular dark spots or risk spots? Are latrines, water points, health posts and other services well lit? Do people use flashlights at night?
Are there functioning latrines? Yes No
Considerations: Where are latrines located and are they in a secure location? If not, what are the different security risks related to the latrines?* Do they have functioning interior locks? Is there night lighting?
Are they separated by sex? Are the latrines accessible for women, men, boys and girls including people with disabilities and elderly people?* Do they allow women and girls to meet all their menstrual hygiene needs in safety/with sufficient privacy?*
Is the location overcrowded? Yes No
Considerations: Is there sufficient space to move between shelters? Are there walkways to allow for movement? Are walkways well lit?*
Do shelters have doors with internal locks? Do households have sex/age/culturally sufficient privacy? Are there collective centers or shelters? If so, do they have partitions between families?
Are there functioning water points? Yes No
Considerations: Where are water points located and are they in a secure location? * If not, what are the different security risks related to the water point? * Who uses the water points and when? How is access and timing decided? Is the line exceptionally long? Who manages the water point?
Are there showers/bathing spaces? Yes No
Considerations: Where are showers located and are they in a secure location? If not, what are the different security risks related to the showers/bathing spaces?*
Are they separated by sex? Are the latrines accessible for women, men, boys and girls including people with disabilities and elderly people? Do they have functioning interior locks? Sufficient water? Is there night lighting?
Are schools open in the community? Yes No
Considerations: Is there a safe access route to schools?* Where are the specific risk spots and why are they that way? If the schools are open, are children of all genders, ages and abilities attending school? Can girls care for their menstrual hygiene needs at the school? Are there other actors using schools?
Is there a market? Yes No
Considerations: Is there a safe access route to markets?* Where are the specific locations that are dangerous, and what makes those spots a risk? Are there women, men, boys and girls using the market? Are there any sex and age groups that will not visit the market (and why)?*
Are women, men, boys and girls present at public events, association meetings and decision-making processes, as well as data collection sessions?[2] Yes No
Considerations: Who speaks, when, and what is said? What is done with contributions and how do women, men, boys and girls influence decisions?
Take note of the location and timing of events, participant behaviors, reactions and moods, seating and who is present/not present in such events. Ask a few observers why the groups missing are not present.
Have armed actors or others set up barriers or checkpoints within or in the immediate vicinity of the location being assessed? Yes No
Considerations: Are there armed actors present at the water points, latrines, bathing facilities, school or market? Who is most at risk from these actors at these locations (men, women, boys, girls….)?
Other comments
Please include any other observations, including those related to movement and activities of women, girls, boys and men outside of the settlement for water, firewood, market access, employment or livelihood, etc.

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[1] This tool draws on the work of the International Rescue Committee, GBV Assessment Tools, ‘Safety Audit’

< http://gbvresponders.org/emergency-response-preparedness/emergency-response-assessment/ >

[2] CARE Gender Toolkit, Field Observation, < http://gendertoolkit.care.org/Pages/field%20observation.aspx >.