Harare, Zimbabwe, 28 February 2024 - In a bold step to combat Gender-Based Violence (GBV), the Government of  Zimbabwe, in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and their partners with funding from Takeda Pharmaceuticals, launched the "Women at the Centre'' project in Zimbabwe. This initiative seeks to empower survivors and strengthen support for GBV case management systems nationwide.

Zimbabwe joins Indonesia, El Salvador, Azerbaijan, and Madagascar as a key participant in this global initiative.

Sadly, GBV is a pervasive issue in Zimbabwe, with at least 1 in 3 women and girls experiencing some form of emotional, physical, or sexual violence. “Women at the Centre” project is a much-needed response to this crisis.

This four-year initiative (2023-2026) focuses on strengthening GBV case management systems nationwide. It aims to increase the quality and accessibility of services for all survivors, with particular emphasis on marginalised groups like women and girls with disabilities, key populations, and adolescent girls. It will pilot in the Bubi district before expanding to reach other provinces, ensuring a broad, nationwide impact.

"It's heartwarming to pilot this vital case management system in Bubi, a rural district of Matabeleland Province," said Honourable Monica Mutsvangwa, Minister of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprise Development at the launch of the project. "This gives us a true reflection of the realities faced by survivors accessing services, especially in hard-to-reach areas."

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. This project aligns with UNFPA's ongoing commitment to women's empowerment.

"The 'Women at the Centre' project uses a holistic approach to address the pandemic of violence against women in Zimbabwe," said Ms. Miranda Tabifor, UNFPA Zimbabwe Country Representative. "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."

Current GBV case management standards and practices generally focus on building skills to meet the needs of large target populations, while the specific knowledge, attitudes and skills needed to adapt services for marginalised survivors are not yet institutionalised in most settings, leaving social workers without sufficient capacity to assist these survivors potentially putting them at risk of further harm.

This project offers a multi-pronged approach which will include:

• Capacity building of specialised actors in GBV Case Management;
• Provision of life-saving multi-sectoral survivor-centred GBV essential services such as mobile one-stop centre, GBV hotline
• Community-based GBV risk mitigation and referral mechanisms such as safe spaces, community mobilisation and GBV surveillance and referral

By Rufaro Kaviya