Improving Health and Protection Outcomes of Women and Girls During COVID-19

This project aims to increase the health and protection of women and girls during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic by addressing their heightened vulnerabilities to maternal mortality unplanned pregnancies and online sexual exploitation and abuse. This project has two components: Component one works to support local governments in continuing the provision of sexual and reproductive health services as well as mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) in communities affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Project activities include: (1) providing COVID-19 protection information family planning counselling and services through mobile and online platforms; (2) providing technical assistance and support in the roll out of cash assistance program for maternal health services; and (3) providing training to midwives and other healthcare workers on MHPSS services. Component two focuses on building the capacity of government and civil society organizations to prevent and respond to online facilitated sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). Project activities include: (1) creating a database and profiling system for early detection and reporting of cases; (2) organizing an online support group to provide survivors with access to legal health and psychosocial support services; and (3) engaging youth organizations in developing solutions that tackles online sexual exploitation and abuse. The project expects to provide 5 000 pregnant women with cash assistance to access institution-based health services and 4 100 people (of which 97% are women) with contraceptives. The project expects that 300 000 individuals receive COVID-19 protection information and family planning counselling. The project also expects to provide 200 healthcare workers with training on MHPSS and at least 1 000 survivors with SGBV support services.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) increased use of quality comprehensive and gender-responsive sexual and reproductive health and rights services information and commodities particularly by marginalized women and girls belonging to COVID-19 affected communities in the CALABARZON region of the Philippines; and (2) improved access of women and young people to prevention and response services relevant to evolving modes of SGBV under the COVID-19 context including in CALABARZON.