Clarifications Targeted Actions

Dear all.

Question concerning targeted actions have often come up during the Gender-Age marker trainings, both in terms of what is considered a targeted action and how the gender-age marker applies to those actions. I will therefore now try to clarify these matters.

A targeted action is exclusively targeting a specific vulnerable group of the population, rather than providing assistance to most or all members of a community. An action is also considered targeted, if the majority of activities or the budget exclusively target one or a few specific groups. An action in which three of five individual results are targeted, with these results accounting for just under half of the total budget would also count as targeted.

In section 3.2.3 in the Single Form the partner is requested to indicate whether or not their action targets a specific group. If the whole action exclusively target one or a few specific groups, the partner will then be asked to identify those groups by clicking on the corresponding groups in section 3.2.3.1. (Infants and young children/ Children/ Elderly/ Pregnant Lactating women/ Disabled/ Male/Female). It is possible to select several groups, but not all. The partner also needs to specify this for each individual result in section 4.

So, a nutrition project that focuses on the nutritional needs of infants and young children but also have a minor WASH component with one result focusing on hygiene promotion for the whole community can hence still be considered a targeted action, as the majority of the activities and the budget are still targeting infants and young children.

As in other types of action, the gender-age analysis for targeted actions should identify the distinct needs, concerns and capacities of women, girls, boys and men of all ages. This analysis should then justify why the targeted group was chosen. A proper gender and age analysis is particularly important for targeted actions in order ensure that the action responds to actual needs, rather than being based on stereotypical assumptions and organisational mandates.

Partners should also explain whether they are involving any other groups in the design and implementation of the targeted action, as cooperation of other groups may be essential for the assistance to be effective. It is also important to explain how to mitigate the risks of creating or increasing tensions within communities or households, as targeted actions privileges one group over others and might affect power relations.

For more information please consult the Gender-Age marker Toolkit pages 28-30 and the Single Form Guidelines at the DG ECHO Partner Website

(http://dgecho-partners-helpdesk.eu/action_proposal/fill_in_the_sf/start).

Hope this have been helpful and please let me know if you have questions or need further clarifications.

Best regards, Hanna

Policy Officer Gender, Children and Aid Effectivness as DG ECHO.