Project Title: Breaking the Cycle of Gender-Based Violence: Survivor-Centered Services and Community Engagement in Enugu State
Project Duration: May 2025 – Present
Funded by: The French Government through the French Embassy Fund for Civil Society (FEF-OSC)
Location: Enugu State, Nigeria
Project Overview
The project, “Breaking the Cycle of Gender-Based Violence: Survivor-Centered Services and Community Engagement in Enugu State,” is funded by the French Embassy Fund for Civil Society (FEF-OSC) and implemented by the Economic and Social Empowerment of Rural Communities (ESERC). The initiative seeks to advance a coordinated, inclusive, and survivor-centered approach to Gender-Based Violence (GBV) prevention and response across Enugu State.
Through strategic policy engagement, community empowerment, institutional strengthening, and public awareness, the project aims to improve access to quality GBV services while strengthening accountability and coordination among key stakeholders. It builds on the gains and lessons of the EU–UN Spotlight Initiative and focuses on institutionalizing sustainable, State-owned mechanisms for GBV prevention and response.
Core Objectives
The core objectives of the project include:
▪ Establishment and operationalization of the Enugu State GBV Taskforce as a coordinating platform for statewide GBV prevention and response efforts.
▪ Signing of a multi-sectoral Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with key government institutions and security agencies to ensure an integrated, coordinated, and accountable GBV response system in Enugu State. These include:
– Ministry of Children, Gender Affairs and Social Development
– Ministry of Justice
– Ministry of Health
– Ministry of Labour
– Ministry of Education
– Ministry of Agriculture
– Ministry of Poverty Alleviation
– Ministry of Budget and Planning
– Ministry of Trade and Investment
– Nigeria Police Force, Enugu State Command
– Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC)
– Enugu State GBV Taskforce
▪ Capacity building of Community Advocacy Groups (CAGs) and other community-based actors to lead grassroots sensitization, prevention efforts, and community-based referral and support systems.
▪ Economic empowerment of GBV survivors through livelihood support, vocational and skills development, financial literacy training, and linkages to financial opportunities such as cooperatives, loans, and seed grants.
▪ Community sensitization and awareness creation in schools, churches, mosques, markets, and other public spaces to promote GBV prevention, positive social norms, and zero tolerance for violence.
▪ Strengthening GBV data management systems to improve documentation, tracking, and evidence-based advocacy and programming.
▪ Design, production, and dissemination of Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) materials with referral information to promote survivor rights, gender equality, social norm change, and safe reporting of GBV cases.
▪ Implementation of mass media campaigns across radio, television, print, and digital platforms to raise public awareness on GBV, amplify survivor voices, and mobilize collective action.
Our Commitment
Through this project, ESERC is committed to breaking the cycle of silence, stigma, and impunity surrounding Gender-Based Violence in Enugu State. By fostering strong collaboration between government institutions, communities, civil society, and service providers, the project promotes an inclusive, survivor-centered ecosystem where prevention, protection, and accountability mechanisms work in synergy to uphold the rights, dignity, and well-being of women, girls, and other vulnerable populations.
