The Issue
Armed conflict has caused massive population displacement, exposing affected communities to serious human rights violations, including a rise in gender-based violence. These forms of violence were closely linked to the socio-economic vulnerability of women and girls, particularly when they leave their homes for essential activities such as farming, collecting water or gathering firewood. Food insecurity forces women to travel long distances along unsafe routes, where they are exposed to assault. Some are also subjected to sexual abuse, including by landowners, in exchange for precarious and underpaid work (around CDF 1,000 per day, or less than USD 0.5).
Economic precarity has contributed to a worrying increase in reliance on survival sex, as well as the expansion of brothels involving women, girls and boys. In addition, access to care and support services remained severely limited for several months, revealing major gaps in psychosocial, socio-economic and educational support for survivors.
Finally, the insufficient capacity of community-based mental health and psychosocial support workers increases the risk of unintended harm.
The Project
The intervention aims to respond in an integrated manner to the needs of affected populations:
- Protection and survivor care: support to survivors of human rights violations, including gender-based violence, through mental health and psychosocial support, individual protection assistance, and referral to specialized external services, including health care, clinical management of rape and education.
- Social change and transformation of gender norms, and environmental protection: strengthening knowledge, attitudes and practices that support protection and gender equality through awareness-raising, community mobilisation, strengthening of local structures and religious leaders. This includes community dialogue and the establishment of men’s discussion groups on gender-based violence, activities marking international days dedicated to advocacy for women and children in the area and activities in women and girls’ safe spaces.
Economic empowerment: provision of cash support (multipurpose cash assistance) and livelihood development through the creation and strengthening of income-generating activities.
The Change
The intervention will change the situation through:
- Reduced rights violations and transformation of social norms: reduction in abuses, including gender-based violence, and positive changes in knowledge, attitudes and behaviors. Gender integration in conflict management is strengthened, with increased participation of women and girls in decision-making within households and communities. Changes are also observed among men, who adopt more equitable behaviors and provide greater support to their spouses, particularly in farming and family activities.
- Strengthened protection and economic autonomy: improved protection of people at risk through cash support and livelihood development. Participants, particularly in Mweso and Kitshanga, develop income-generating activities that enable them to meet essential needs such as food, health care and education.
Improved access to quality services for survivors: increased access to safe, dignified and confidential services. Survivors who were initially affected by psychosocial distress, such as anxiety, isolation and depression, show marked improvement in their well-being, resume daily activities and strengthen their resilience.
Results
- 174,465 people reached through activities to prevent violations of fundamental rights, including gender-based violence
- 360 participants received multipurpose cash transfers for three months
- 659 people supported with resources to protect and begin rebuilding their livelihoods
- 722 people received mental health and psychosocial support services
- 500 participants received dignity kits
- 148 people received individual protection assistance
- 1 Women and Girls Community Space rehabilitated and equipped
Partners
RPP (Reseau de Protection et Plaidoyer) is one of the leading community-based Protection organisations in the area. It is a deep-rooted national organisation well recognised by the community.
RPP was created in 2012 and quickly assumed a crucial coordination role in Mweso HZ. RPP has developed a strong community network throughout its intervention, which provides the base for implementing Protection Monitoring activities. RPP is involved in implementing community-based protection activities, training in human rights, humanitarian law and protection monitoring, and dynamization of national protection committees.
ACPEJ (Actions des Ex-Combattants Pour l’Encadrement des Jeunes et la lutte contre l’enrôlement des enfants et les violences sexuelles basées sur le genre) is a very dynamic and national organisation working in the field of reintegration, gender equality, education and food security.
ACPEJ will take the lead to sensitize communities so that they become an environment of peace for women and be able to fight against any gender-based violence. They have a strong capacity of community mobilization and a network of focal points disseminated throughout the Nord Kivu Province. They will also support DCA in case management.
About the project
- Full title: Strengthening resilience to protection and gender-based violence risks and promoting safe, meaningful and dignified access to gender-based violence services in crisis-affected communities in North Kivu Province, DRC
- Timeline: October 2024 to March 2026
- Partners: RPP and ACPEJ
- Amount: 1,721,593.00 DKK
- DCA theme: Save
- Expected number of people reached: 111,788
- Donor(s): European Union
