This helpdesk report from the Knowledge, Evidence and Learning for Development programme gathers examples of what has worked to include people who experience discrimination and social inequality in humanitarian assistance programmes. It covers discrimination based on gender, age, disability, religious belief, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and sex characteristics, across crisis response, recovery and resilience.

The report recommends including marginalised and excluded people in the planning and design of activities rather than only as recipients, combining different types of programming such as multi-component economic empowerment alongside social norms change, building relationships with and investing in the capacity of local organisations, and conducting intersectional analysis to determine who is most in need of humanitarian assistance. It is organised around prevention, participation, resilience and relief and services.