A gender-sensitive approach aims to integrate gender-related considerations at every stage of epidemic response (design, preparation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation) to ensure fair access to prevention measures and care for women and gender minorities. It seeks to account for the different specificities and needs based on gender.

Designing and implementing epidemic response actions and programmes while accounting for gender means both addressing gender-specific needs and avoiding the reinforcement of existing inequalities or gender-based violence, which may be present in operational contexts. To this end, it is necessary to analyse, reflect on and plan actions while accounting for gender throughout the epidemiological response cycle.