Overview

The Pro-Femmes Ituri project strengthens prevention of and response to gender-based violence (GBV) to create a protective environment for women in Ituri province, contributing to the eradication of GBV in the DRC.

The project proposes a dynamic intervention model that reinforces existing achievements and consolidates existing partnerships with communities, government bodies, and bi- and multilateral cooperation agencies. Guided by the principles of Person-Centered Design, the project works toward improving the wellbeing of individuals and communities in all their diversities. Pro-Femmes Ituri strengthens the capacities of care centers in the Bunia health zone by supporting the holistic management of GBV cases through an integrated, multi-sectoral “services center” approach. This enables survivors to access services (medical, psychosocial, legal, and socio-economic) at a single location for effective care. 

Project Activities

Encourage communities to adopt attitudes and socio-cultural norms that support gender equality and the fight against GBV

• Build stakeholders’ knowledge and capacities in gender, male engagement, positive masculinity, the fight against GBV, advocacy, and community dialogue. 
• Support local organizations in conducting awareness-raising campaigns on gender, combatting GBV, and organizing the digital beneficiary satisfaction survey. 
• Implement an approach that strengthens the commitment of men and boys. 
• Sensitize communities to promote the green line and the mapping of available GBV services to strengthen the networking of care facilities and local organizations. 

Ensure community mechanisms for early warning, prevention of, and response to gender-based violence are mobilized and functional in the project area

• Identify, assess, and strengthen existing community-based GBV early warning and monitoring mechanisms. 
• Set up local community surveillance advisors and multi-sectoral committees in Bunia’s 12 neighborhoods and integrate GBV monitoring into community outreach committees for Bunia’s 22 health zones. 
• Strengthen referral mechanisms by retraining green line operators, providing psychosocial assistance, facilitating networks among call centers and care facilities, and accompanying survivors of GBV in emergency transport. 

Increase access to holistic care (medical, psychosocial, legal and protective, and socioeconomic reintegration) for GBV survivors

• Strengthen the capacities of clinical providers in medical and psychosocial management of GBV and data management.
• Strengthen the capacities of public social assistance agents in psychosocial assistance, reintegration and referral through the relaunch of the GBV trainers’ framework, and supervision for quality assurance. 
• Create a network of focal points in each health area to counsel and support GBV survivors. 
• Support the integration of GBV management services in the nine health areas that are not covered, and revitalize the Integrated Multisectoral Services Centers at the Bunia General Reference Hospital.

Increase access to holistic care (medical, psychosocial, legal and protective, and socioeconomic reintegration) for GBV survivors

• Support the Provincial Division for Gender, Family and Children (DiviGenre), the Provincial Division for Social Affairs (DIVAS) and the Provincial Health Division (DPS) to strengthen support for field workers.
• Monitor interventions by improving the use of GBV data through consolidation of the national GBV database and supporting regular data validation. 
• Update the map of stakeholders working to combat GBV in Bunia and the surrounding area (local, national, and international).