Nationwide school closures as part of measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 have disrupted the education of an entire generation of children and youth. Previous health emergencies demonstrate that girls are disproportionately affected, with the effects of gender inequality and unequal power structures exacerbated in times of crisis. This Common Messaging Framework, developed with UNGEI partner and ally organisations, can be used as an advocacy tool to leverage the power of collective action to position gender at the forefront of the COVID-19 response and enhance coherence in advocacy and communications efforts.