UNFPA: My safety, our future: women and girl’s empowerment and protection from GBV in conflict-affected Yemen

Project completed

The conflict in Yemen has increased the vulnerability of women and girls to abuse and exploitation. The coping mechanisms of individuals and communities have changed, the protection systems broken down and the available services have low quality. The project aims at scaling up UNFPA’s gender-based violence (GBV) responses and to empower the most vulnerable among the GBV survivors through multisector approach and specialised services. The project has a strong component to sensitize communities as well as the humanitarian community on GBV.

Country/region Topic Period Budget
Yemen
Gender
nothemedefined
Sexual & gender-based violence
15.07.2017 - 14.07.2019
CHF  1’200’000
Background

The conflict and serious humanitarian crises in Yemen have exacerbated the underlying gender inequalities. Changes in traditional roles and coping mechanisms have made women and girls especially vulnerable to violence and exploitation. Although gender-based violence (GBV) has always been a widespread concern in Yemeni society, the conflict which has caused severe societal, economic and political destruction has severely worsened the situation. Since March 2015 some 21,848 GBV cases have been reported. Over 18 million people require some form of humanitarian aid and some 11.3 million people are in need of protection assistance. 

Poor infrastructure is rampant, affecting above all public health facilities. The access to health facilities is restricted, there is severe shortage of medical supplies, and the capacity of staff is inadequate also because little continuous education opportunities exist. Accessing help is difficult as the mobility of women and girls is normally restricted. Accessing GBV-specific medical care is constrained as the law requires a medical certificate that confirms the violence that the survivor has been subjected to. Doctors are reluctant to issue the certificate in fear of retaliation by the survivor’s family or community. Additionally, the provision of health care and services for the GBV survivors is of low quality, inequitably delivered and suffered greatly under the circumstances of the current conflict (less than 45 % of health facilities  are still functional). 

The humanitarian actors are not fully aware of the GBV responses and the humanitarian agenda does not reflect the GBV responses comprehensively at sector level. 

The intervention seeks to address in a holistic manner the gaps in the GBV protection and multisectoral responses in Yemen through strengthening the capacities of the local service providers and tackling the issues of GBV in humanitarian agenda. 

The project targets worst affected areas in 9 governorates (Amran, Sana’a, Sa’ada, Dhamar, Al Hudaydah, Hajjah, Taizz, Amant Al-Asimah and Ibb) which have been identified by the prevalence of GBV, severity of needs, availability of services and number of IDPs over the total number of the local population.

Objectives Women and girls gain power over their lives, pursue their potential and live free from violence and inequality
Target groups

Primary target groups:

  1. GBV survivors, women and girls in need of protection (including adolescent girls, female headed households, women and girls living with physical and mental disabilities, from marginalised communities, migrants and refugees)
  2. GBV service providers (health, psycho-social, legal, shelter and security) and wider humanitarian sector service providers

Secondary  target groups:

Norm setters, traditional and religious leaders, local police and local authorities.

Medium-term outcomes Women and girls are safe, survivors can recover and their vulnerabilities to GBV are reduced
Results

Expected results:  

Output 1: Comprehensive, specialized GBV services and support structures are available and functioning 

Output 2: GBV survivors and at risk women and girls have improved capacities and safe access to resources, support services and livelihoods opportunities 

Output 3: Awareness-raising and community mobilization identify key risk and address negative norms, attitudes and practices that perpetuate the social acceptance of GBV 

Output 4: Strengthen accountability of Yemen’s humanitarian architecture on prioritizing GBV prevention and response, adopting risk mitigation strategies in their response plans, and increase the core capacity of humanitarian actors in addressing GBV


Directorate/federal office responsible SDC
Credit area Humanitarian aid
Project partners Contract partner
United Nations Organization (UNO)
  • United Nations Population Fund


Other partners
Safe the Children, Yemen Women’s Union, British Council and Intersos.
Coordination with other projects and actors UNICEF, ICRC, UNHCR
Budget Current phase Swiss budget CHF    1’200’000 Swiss disbursement to date CHF    1’190’000 Total project since first phase Budget inclusive project partner CHF   6’000’000
Project phases

Phase 1 15.07.2017 - 14.07.2019   (Completed)