Empowered Aid Transforming Gender And Power Dynamics In The Delivery Of Humanitarian Aid

The Empowered Aid report reveals that sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) are systemic risks in Uganda’s refugee settlements, where aid actors and intermediaries trade life-saving resources for sex. Vulnerabilities exist at every stage, from registration "gatekeeping" to the dangerous transport of heavy goods. To fix this, the study calls for contextual safeguarding: a strategy that moves beyond punishing individuals to redesigning aid delivery—using female-led teams, safe transport, and transparent communication—to strip perpetrators of their power.