Zimbabwe Launches Women at the Center Project To Ease GBV Case Management and Referral Pathways

By Michael Gwarisa

The Government of  Zimbabwe through the Ministry of Women Affairs Community, and Small and Medium Enterprise Development in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), have launched the Women at the Centre Project that focuses on providing increased support to survivors of Gender Based Violence (GBV) through quality case management.

Japanese Pharmaceutical Company Takeda is supporting the project and its being implemented over four years.  Zimbabwe is one of five countries that are part of this project. The other countries are Indonesia, El Salvador, Azerbaijan and Madagascar.

The project will be piloted in Bubi district in Matebeleland North Before being scaled up in other districts across the country.

Officiating at the launch of the project, Minister of Women Affairs, Community, and Small and Medium Enterprise Development Honorable Monica Mutsvangwa said the project will prioritise Gender Based Violence (GBV) Case Management and bring together the principles of coordination, collaboration, standardization, and holistic empowerment of GBV survivors.

We are here not only to celebrate but also to commit to the implementation and rollout of the programme as key stakeholders within GBV programming. Certainly, the project will add value to our work as we respond to the needs of GBV survivors,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.

“It is heart-warming to note that we shall be piloting the Case Management system in Bubi, a rural District of Matabeleland Province. Piloting in a district such as Bubi will inform us of the realities faced by survivors accessing services, especially in hard-to-reach areas. This gives a true reflection that we can replicate the project across the country in line with the Country’s Vision of leaving no one and no place behind the mantra.”

GBV is a huge problem in Zimbabwe affecting many women and girls. At least 49% of ever-married adolescent girls and women aged 15-49 years have experienced some form of emotional, physical, or sexual violence committed by their current or most recent husband or partner.

The Women at the Centre project seeks to ensure increased and sustained accessibility and availability of quality services for GBV survivors including those most marginalised; women and girls with disabilities; key populations and adolescent girls through increased GBV case management capacity and system strengthening.

Japanese Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Mr Shinichi Yamanaka said Japan is dedicated to ensuring Zimbabwe archives Gender Equality.

“For example, to help serve the rights of pregnant women, we just handed over medical and hospital equipment to ensure they deliver and receive necessary care while giving birth in the project carried by UNFPA. Through our grass-roots project, we handed the centre for women’s safety at Overspill Market in Epworth,” said Ambassador Yamanaka.

The launch of the project comes as UNFPA is this year recognising the 30th anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development. This conference tied women’s empowerment to peace and prosperity.

Although much progress has been made since the International Conference on Population and Development a lot still needs to be done for women and girl’s progress. Achieving gender equality and women’s well-being in all aspects of life is more crucial than ever if we want to create prosperous economies and a healthy planet and ending GBV is very critical to achieving this.

UNFPA won the grant to host and manage the Takeda-funded Women at the Centre Project after 
rigorous processes.

“As we commemorate the 30th anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development we are reminded that Gender Based Violence remains the unfinished of this important agenda,” said Ms. Miranda Tabifor UNFPA Country Representative.

She added: “The Women at the Centre project uses a holistic approach to address the pandemic of violence against women in Zimbabwe. It is not just about responding to GBV; it’s about preventing it. By empowering women, addressing their needs, and building strong support systems, we can create a safer and more just future for all.”

Other implementing partners to the project include Musasa Project, World Vision.

“For us, a functional Case management system is very critical in ensuring that women get quality multi-sectoral services. We know the journey can be very traumatising and for us, this project will ensure that women have confidence in the system, confidence that when they report, their matter will be handled effectively and they will get the support that they need,” said Vimbai Mutendereki, Executive Director of Musasa Project.

This Women at the Centre Project offers a multi-pronged approach which will include Capacity building of specialised actors on GBV Case Management; Provision of life saving multi-sectoral survivor-centred GBV essential services such as mobile one stop centres, GBV hotline and Community based GBV risk mitigation and referral mechanisms such as safe spaces, community mobilisation and GBV surveillance and referral.

 

 

 

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