Annual Gender and DRM Conference:  “Refreshing ARC Gender and DRM Strategy while sharing lessons from the O&E project and navigating new partnerships in the evolving Gender and DRM landscape.”
Date:  28-30 May 2024: Abidjan-Côte d’Ivoire

The Gender and O&E departments are collaborating in organising the annual Gender and DRM conference with a triple focus: 

• A focus on Gender and DRM:  reviewing the gender strategy and proposing key fundamentals for its refresh.
• A focus on Outbreaks and epidemics:  concluding the the first phase of the BMGF project grant with a regional conference where lessons learned will be shared.
• A review of the gender and DRM partnerships in the evolving DRM landscape. 

The end of the year 2024 will mark the end of the 5 years ARC Gender strategy that was adopted in 2019. At the same time, the first phase of the Gender and Outbreaks and Epidemics project ending in May 2024, the time is opportune for the gender and the O&E departments of ARC to look at what has been achieved together, to share experiences, learn lessons and map out important steps moving forward. 

The main objective of the planned Conference it to take stock of Gender Mainstreaming in ARC from a wholistic perspective. The following specific objectives will guide the Conference: 

1. To share experiences and outline lessons learnt in the integration of Gender in the O&E project. 
2. To set an agenda for the next phase of the gender in O&E project 
3. To critically examine the implementation of the ARC Gender Strategy Plan of Action 2019-2024 
4. To explore critical actions and initiatives for consolidation of achievements of the Gender Strategy in the light of changing DRM landscape 
5. To examine the Gender Partnership strategy and explore avenues of strengthening partnership in the light of changing DRM landscape.