Introduction and Purpose of the Guide
Over the years, as female professionals working in the field of One Health, we have had the opportunity to live in and travel to many different countries for study, research, and professional assignments. These experiences have been deeply enriching, but they have also brought specific challenges—particularly related to cultural norms, social dynamics, and personal safety.
With this in mind, we wanted to share our experiences to help make things easier for other women who may find themselves navigating similar situations. While a wealth of general travel advice exists online, we felt there was a gap when it comes to resources that reflect the lived realities of women working in international development.
From the outset, it was not easy to define clear boundaries for what this guide should cover while avoiding duplication of existing resources. As such, this guide is not exhaustive and should be seen as a living document, evolving alongside political, cultural, and social contexts. Our aim is to offer practical, experience-based insights that complement existing guidance and contribute to safer and more informed professional travel.
This guide was developed for women working in international development who travel outside their usual cultural environments—for example, professionals from Asia working in Africa, from Africa working in Latin America or the United States, or from Western countries working in Asia or the Pacific. While it is difficult to generalise across such diverse contexts, we aim to raise awareness of recurring situations and challenges that may arise.
The focus is primarily on short-term travel for conferences, workshops, and field missions, rather than long-term relocations. Throughout the guide, we encourage readers to adapt the reflections and suggestions to their own context and to trust their judgement when navigating unfamiliar or complex situations.
We hope that readers will find this guide both useful and empowering. Above all, we wish you culturally respectful, personally enriching, and safe professional journeys.
This guide, as part of an initiative under the Women for One Health, has been designed especially for women to make packing for work related trips easier and stress-free. It includes checklists for essentials, tips on respecting local customs, and practical advice for staying comfortable and professional but also safe while traveling.
Special thanks to all the women that contributed to the development of this guide.
Carla Stoffel, Charlotte Schrurs, Katinka de Balogh, Laura Urdes, Lea Knopf, Lida Anestidou, Lina Gazu, Marjan Leneman, Sara Savic, Veronica Ormea and Vivian Lymas Tegli.
Structure of the Guide
The guide is organized into a series of thematic chapters. The content is based on our own experiences, complemented by external sources and references where relevant. As contexts evolve, some information may change, and we anticipate updating and expanding sections over time.
Certain chapters, such as the packing list, are designed as stand-alone resources, while others, including the chapter on harassment and safety, are being further developed and are also expected to be stand-alone Chapters to be downloadable. We also aim to increasingly integrate personal stories and reflections, presented in short text boxes, to complement the practical guidance.
Current Chapters are the following:
0. Introduction and Purpose of the Guide
1. Preparing to travel abroad for work
2. Packing Guide for Women Traveling for Work
3. In the plane (or any other means of transport), in transit and arriving at your destination
4. Cultural and socio-economic aspects
5. Harassment and other threats to safety, security, and wellbeing
As chapters are finalized, they will be made available through the Women for One Health (WfOH) website: www.WfOH.org
Proposed Dissemination
As chapters are finalized, dissemination could include the following channels:
- Women for One Health monthly meetings: Used to share progress, gather feedback, and identify additional contributors to specific sections of the guide.
- Women for One Health website: Serving as the primary repository for the guide and its individual chapters (the packing list is already available). Packing Guide for Women Traveling for Work ✈️| Women for one health
- Women for One Health LinkedIn group: Used to share updates and new publications, with members encouraged to repost through their own professional networks. Women for one health | Women for one health
- Social media: Individual members may share content via LinkedIn, Facebook, or other relevant platforms as chapters are released.
- Events and conferences: Dissemination through presentations, posters, or information booths, depending on the event format.
- Podcast (optional): Selected topics or experiences could be explored through
We hope you enjoy this guide and wish you safe and fruitful travels!
For any additional information or comments please contact
Katinka de Balogh katinka027@gmail.com
Or
Lea Knopf lea.knopf@giz.d