text: Response strategies for promoting gender equality in public health emergencies a rapid scoping review The COVID 19 pandemic threatens to widen existing gender inequities worldwide A growing body of literature assesses the harmful consequences of public health emergencies PHEs for women and girls however evidence of what works to alleviate such impacts is limited To inform viable mitigation strategies we reviewed the evidence on gender based interventions implemented in PHEs including disease outbreaks and natural disasters We conducted a rapid scoping review to identify eligible studies by systematically searching the databases MEDLINE Global Health and Web of Science with the latest search update on 28 May 2021 We used the Sustainable Development Goals as a guiding framework to identify eligible outcomes of gender in equality Out of 13 920 records 16 studies met our eligibility criteria These included experimental 3 cohort 2 case control 3 and cross sectional 9 studies conducted in the context of natural disasters earthquakes droughts and storms or epidemics Zika Ebola and COVID 19 Six studies were implemented in Asia seven in North Central America and three in Africa Interventions included economic empowerment programmes 5 health promotion largely focused on reproductive health 10 and a postearthquake resettlement programme 1 Included studies assessed gender based outcomes in the domains of sexual and reproductive health equal opportunities access to economic resources violence and health There was a dearth of evidence for other outcome domains relevant to gender equity such as harmful practices sanitation and hygiene practices workplace discrimination and unpaid work Economic empowerment interventions showed promise in promoting womens and girls economic and educational opportunities as well as their sexual and reproductive health during PHEs However some programme beneficiaries may be at risk of experiencing unintended harms such as an increase in domestic violence Focused reproductive health promotion may also be an effective strategy for supporting womens sexual and reproductive health although additional experimental evidence is needed This study identified critical evidence gaps to guide future research on approaches to alleviating gender inequities during PHEs We further highlight that interventions to promote gender equity in PHEs should take into account possible harmful side effects such as increased gender based violence DOI 10 17605 OSF IO 8HKFD 