Cover image: © UNICEF/UNI871461/Abdul

This foundational module introduces the concept of Gender-Responsive Social Protection (GRSP) — an approach that recognises how gender shapes access to opportunity, security, and well-being throughout life.

It is designed for practitioners, development professionals, and government partners working on social protection, gender equality, and inclusive policy design. Through real-world examples, interactive exercises, and reflection activities, learners will explore how social protection systems can promote equity, empowerment, and dignity for all.

In this course, we will follow Mia, an adolescent girl in a flood-prone coastal town. Her day shows how gender roles, time, safety, and documents affect who gets support.

As we learn, we will ask: What helps or hinders Mia? Removing these barriers not only helps Mia — it also makes programmes work better for everyone.

Learning objectives

At the end of this course you will be able to:

  1. Define key concepts related to gender equality, equity, intersectionality, and social protection.
  2. Explain why gender matters for social protection and recognise gendered risks and vulnerabilities across different life stages.
  3. Apply gender analysis frameworks and tools to assess the gender responsiveness of social protection programmes.
  4. Design or adapt social protection interventions to be gender-responsive using a structured, step-by-step approach.
  5. Identify and improve delivery systems — including outreach, registration, payments, and grievance mechanisms — to promote equity and prevent exclusion or harm.
  6. Develop a basic gender-responsive monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) plan, including measurable indicators and methods.
  7. Advocate for system-level and policy change through evidence, collaboration, and inclusive stakeholder engagement.
  8. Demonstrate learning by completing lesson-level knowledge checks and a final assessment, and by identifying available tools and resources for continued application.

Audience

  • UNICEF staff (country offices, regional offices, COE, and HQ)
  • UNICEF National Committees, consultants, interns, volunteers, goodwill ambassadors and board members
  • Non-UNICEF partners including government, civil society, international NGOs, foundations, donors, private sector, etc.

Length

2 hours (approximately)

Methodology

Self-paced, learner-centred e-learning using a modular microlearning approach. The course combines story-based and decision-based scenarios, interactive videos, case studies, and practical tools to support real-world applications. Learning is reinforced through reflection, knowledge checks with instant feedback, and a final assessment, grounded in adult learning principles and inclusive, accessible design.

Structure

This course is composed of 5 modules:

  • Module 1: Understanding Gender and Social Protection 
  • Module 2: Designing Gender-Responsive Social Protection
  • Module 3: Delivering Gender-Responsive Social Protection
  • Module 4: Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning for GRSP
  • Module 5: Advocacy for Gender-Responsive Social Protection

Contact details

Content issues and questions:

Shreyasi Jha, Jessica Owens, Lauren Whitehead

UNICEF Global Programme Division – Climate Resilience for Children, Technical Assistance, Bangkok

Course and learner management:

Shreyasi Jha