Zimpapers Logo

Kudzai Chikiwa, Chronicle Reporter

THE UN in partnership with the European Union (EU) has availed US$30 million to fight gender based violence (GBV) in Zimbabwe.

The money is meant for women to invest in projects that help to eliminate sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), harmful practices and addressing related aspects of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR).

In an interview, UN Women Country Representative, Mrs Caroline Nyamayemombe said the US$30 million is a Spotlight initiative to fight GBV.

 “The Spotlight initiative was launched in September 2017 by the United Nations Secretary-General and the European Union High Representative and Vice President . It is a multi-year initiative focused on eliminating all forms of violence against women and girls,” she said.

Mrs Nyamayemombe said the Spotlight initiative has pillars which include ‘legislative and policy frameworks, institutional strengthening, prevention and social norms, delivery of quality essential services, data availability and capacities and supporting the women’s movement.’

The UN Women Country Representative said the Spotlight initiative supports UN development system reforms and implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“The Spotlight initiative is strategically positioned to support SDG5 which aims at achieving gender equality and empower all women and girls and SDG 3 which aims at ensuring healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages,” she said.

Mrs Nyamayemombe said for the first phase of the initiative, the UN is targeting Matabeleland South, Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland West, Manicaland and Harare provinces.

She said all women civil society organisations are mandated to come together and form groups to initiate a specific project to be implemented using the funds.

“This is not an individually based program but the funds are channelled for Zimbabwean women to come up with a specific project that will benefit their province and help in eliminating gender based violence and empower women,” she said.

Mrs Nyamayemombe said the groups are vital as they will help Zimbabweans to realise the power of bringing civil society organisations together in coming up with strategic plans to develop the nation.

 “We urge all stakeholders to come up together and list where there are loopholes in their provinces so that we start from there. The idea is to identify a marginalised group and to seek to address their need as a large group,” she said.

The UN Women Country representative said provinces are at liberty to propose any project as long as it is of benefit to the community.

“For example Matabeleland can propose that they need to build a clinic in Nkayi, this is then assessed at national level and if approved they can proceed,” she said.

Mrs Nyamayemombe said on April 1 provinces will submit their proposals and there will be a committee set to review on the proposed projects.

Mrs Nyamayemombe said UN also availed funds to other continents which have different mandates from Africa.

“While in Africa we focus on addressing Sexual and Gender-based violence and harmful practices, in Asia we address trafficking while in Latin America we are addressing femicide, in Caribbean its family violence and Pacific we are dealing with domestic violence,” she said.

—@tamary98