Adaptation of global gender norms in the practices of international humanitarian organisations: A comparative analysis of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the International Rescue Committee

Gender equality is a norm and aspiration that is increasingly reflected in the policies of humanitarian organisations worldwide. However, tensions exist between the push for alignment with global frameworks and the need for norm localisation and adaptation. This study compares how two organisations – the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (including three National Societies) and the International Rescue Committee (including three country offices) – integrated and adapted global gender norms into their humanitarian responses. We conducted 30 semi-structured interviews with key informants working at headquarters and in Iraq, Sierra Leone and Uganda. We found that the organisations' approaches to gender equality were consistent with global norms. They also used similar strategies to balance these normative commitments with contextual relevance - including local consultation, staffing considerations, strategic framing and programme modification. At the same time, the organisations' structural differences influenced the ways in which high-level gender policies were negotiated and implemented locally. Numerous challenges existed within the adaptation process, including the trade-off between facilitating gender-related programming in challenging contexts and effecting transformative change; missed opportunities to integrate local feedback into high-level policies; and the intensive time, resource and relationship investments necessary to implement locally acceptable, gender-transformative programmes while supporting staff wellbeing.