GADA strengthens its capacity to deliver information and services and enhance knowledge among adolescents and young women
Gender and Development Action (GADA) is the Lead implementing partner in Cross River State, Nigeria of the United National Population Fund- European Union /United Nations funded Spotlight Initiative. The Initiative is a multi-year project which aims to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls, promote access to sexual and reproductive health services and change harmful traditional norms and practices. Under this project, GADA has implemented activities in Calabar Municipality, Calabar South and Obanliku Local Government Areas, empowering 100 girls in life and vocational skills, training Traditional Chiefs on GBV and harmful practices and soliciting their support to ensure violence against women and girls is eliminated within a determined timeframe. Town Hall meetings have also been organized at grassroots level to respond to the Spotlight Initiative’s theme -- “Leave no one behind”.
To further build its capacity to deliver effectively on the project, GADA recently participated in the Review and Validation of the National Peer Education Manual and National Essential Services Package for Gender Based Violence and Harmful Practices held in Abuja. Peer education is important in equipping young people with the right skills and knowledge on GBV, Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights, Life Skills, Mental Health and Personal Hygiene and contributes in shaping and strengthening positive attitudes towards self and others and laying the foundation for healthy socialization.
The service package produced during the Abuja workshop will become a National Standard Procedure for handling GBV cases and in particular will prioritize the needs of women and girls. The manual clearly spells out the duties of every service provider and serves as legal backup for CSO's to advocate for service providers including security agents (e.g., the police) to play their part effectively. A Training of Trainers workshop is planned by GADA to cascade peer education skills and capacity at the State level.
