International Development Grant
Preventing Gender-based Violence and Empowering Women in Times of Pandemic
Project Number: CA-3-P009447001
Status: Closed
Country/Region:
Maximum Contribution: $5,000,000.00
Start Date: November 27, 2020
End Date: September 30, 2023
Duration: 2.8 years
Project Description
This project aims to ensure continued access to essential services for highly vulnerable girls and women at high risk of infection through gender-based violence and harmful practices. This during the COVID-19 pandemic as a priority in Benin's strategic and border areas. Project activities include: (1) supporting awareness-raising of target groups of leaders by committees on early marriage early sexuality and early pregnancy in times of pandemic; (2) strengthening and increasing the involvement of « Les hommes s’engagent » committees and standardized procedures to support the fight against gender-based violence (GBV) and COVID-19 through a telephonic information-sharing diary in the Atlantique; (3) organizing referrals to specialized protection services in compliance with anti-COVID-19 barrier measures; and (4) contributing to advocacy for the safety and psychological support of health personnel in addition to protection measures. The project is to be carried out in three strategic areas namely the departments of Alibori Atacora and Atlantique where gender-based violence is widespread. These areas have a population of around 3 600 812 including 601 022 girls aged 10 to 24 and 1 813 728 women.
Expected Results
The expected outcomes of this project include: (1) improved capacity of stakeholders including decentralized structures non-governmental organizations religious and traditional leaders and men's groups to deliver services. This in order to implement measures and mechanisms to respond to gender-based violence in targeted areas; (2) increased care support and referral services in relation to gender-based violence and sexual and reproductive rights particularly for women and girls; (3) increased empowerment of women and girls particularly adolescents in the fight against gender-based violence through innovative approaches; and (4) improved use of the alert and response mechanism based on real-time geolocated data during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Progress & Results Achieved
Results achieved at the end of the project (September 2023): (1) improved stakeholder capacities and mechanisms in responding to gender-based violence (GBV). This includes 82 Republican Police actors strengthened on updated standard operating procedures. In addition 351 cross-sectoral actors strengthened in data collection and management. This resulted in more than 3 000 cases of GBV identified through social consultations for referral and treatment; (2) equipped 39 health centers with kits for the medical management of GBV victims and also made operational 25 emergency and first-aid telephone lines in 25 health centers. These activities helped to increase GBV care support and referral services; (3) reached or actively engaged more than 1 000 000 young people against GBV through various awareness-raising and mobilization channels. This includes e-learning which increased the number of young people involved from 0 to 795 037. This also increased the participation of adolescents and young girls in the fight against GBV through innovative approaches; and (4) the project made available previously non-existent tools for collecting geolocalized data on cases of GBV instantly. All of the project's achievements contributed to reduce vulnerability to GBV exacerbated by the COVID-19 crisis among girls and women in the project regions as expected in the ultimate outcome.
Key Information
Executing Agency:
UNFPA - United Nations Population Fund
Reporting Organization:
Global Affairs Canada
Program:
WGM Africa
Last Modified:
September 19, 2025
Development Classifications
DAC Sector:
Aid Type: Project-type interventions
Collaboration: Bilateral
Finance Type: Aid grant excluding debt reorganisation
Selection Mechanism:
Department-Initiated