IMPLEMENTATION OF GBV REFERRAL PROTOCOL

Considering the prevalence of GBV in Nigeria and its limited and comprehensive response in terms of necessary support services, WILPF Nigeria an implementing partner of the joint EU-UN spotlight initiative project on ending violence against women and girls had earlier in the year 2020 developed a GBV Referral Protocol that aids ease of referral and coordination among key responders of GBV in the state. The guide describes minimum actions to be taken to respond to and assist GBV survivors. It outlines some guiding principles, procedures, and roles and responsibilities of major actors for the response to and prevention of GBV. It was on this premise WILPF Nigeria organized the training to strengthen stakeholder’s capacity on their roles and responsibilities in the implementation of the referal protocol while also striving to achieve a simple and effective referral pathway and follow–up mechanisms at the local/ national/community level in states on issues of gender based violence for all women and girls including the most marginalized. The training was held in the month of June 2021 in Ebonyi and Cross River State.

Training Objectives:

• Identify and strengthen capacities of stakeholders on their roles and responsibilities in the implementation of the GBV referral protocol

• Promote stakeholder engagement with and ownership of the of GBV Referral Protocol in the state

• Improve the referral pathway for a multi-sectoral response for survivors of GBV in the state

• Develop a monitoring, evaluation and learning mechanism.

Training Methodology:

The methodology used in delivering the training are:

• Individual Pre- and Post-Training Assessment

• Group and individual activities (Using case study)

• Group and individual presentations

• Plenary discussions

Training Summary:

The training objectives was delivered by training participants in two relevant modules. While the first module focused on making sure participants understood their roles and responsibilities in the multisectoral response to and prevention of GBV including steps to providing support to GBV survivors and principles of caring for GBV survivors/ Do’s and Dont’s, the second module focused on making sure they understood the GBV referral pathway to Improve the referral pathway for a multi-sectoral response for survivors of GBV in the state and the development of a monitoring, evaluation and learning mechanism for the GBV referral protocol.

at the entrance to the training hall.

Conclusion:

Participants completed pre- and post-training evaluation forms in order to gauge their level of understanding of the theme and modules of the training. From the completed assessment forms and instant feedbacks received after the training of each cohort, participants expressed better understanding of the GBV Referral Protocol, their roles and responsibilities and increased confidence to implement the referral protocol more effectively. They also expressed that coordination of GBV cases would be easier now because all the relevant stakeholders that participated in the group exercises have gained some practical sense of working together for a common purpose.