US gives GBV survivors K241m grant
The United States of America (USA) has given a $390 000 (K241 million) grant to United Nations (UN) Women Malawi to strengthen the economic empowerment of women and girl survivors of gender-based violence (GBV) in the country.
The grant is expected to empower the survivors through education, skills training and making a GBV referral system in the country operational.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the US Embassy in Lilongwe said the project will be implemented in partnership with the Coalition of Women Living with HIV and Aids in Malawi (Cowlha), a grass roots organisation based in Lilongwe and active nationwide.
Reads the statement: “The project will be implemented in Dowa, Ntchisi and Lilongwe districts for two years. Over the life of the partnership, a series of intensive workshops will impart lessons about women’s confidence building, leadership and participation in decision-making as well enhancing women and girls’ economic empowerment to ensure their effective participation in and benefit from development.
“The qualified trainers will also emphasise the importance of including both women and men as gender equality advocates in their communities and the need for both voices to help eliminate GBV. After each workshop, the participants will hold action meetings in their villages following a ‘train the trainer’ model.”
The grant has come at a time Malawi is commemorating the internationally-observed 16 days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence. n
