Democratic Republic of Congo

In the DRC, Putting Survivors at the Center activities are directed by the Women for Women International country team as well as their local partner organization, RIO (Réseau d'Innovation Organisationnelle). Our findings in the DRC highlighted the need for better information on referrals and stronger support to community leaders, who reported frequently receiving spontaneous disclosures of GBV from women and girls in their communities. There was also a desire for more information about supporting survivors with disabilities. The activities taking place in the DRC respond to these specific needs as well as some of the larger thematic findings from the primary research conducted in Phase I of the project.

Activity locations:

Bukavu
Kaniola (Walungu)
Burhinyi (Mwenga)
Sangya, Nundu, & Swima (Fizi)
Kabare
Kalehe
Kiliba (Uvira)

Thematic Area	Pilot Program	Activity
Improved Immediate Handling of Disclosures	Psychosocial First Aid (PFA) and Immediate Support for Survivors	“Handling Disclosures & Safe Referrals” training for WfWI and RIO frontline and support staff, and community leaders
Connecting to and Supporting Existing Specialist Services	Strengthening survivor-centered care attitudes among GBV service providers	Support the rollout of a new GBV referral smartphone application in partnership with UNFPA Awareness raising and reducing stigma in schools
	Strengthening referrals to specialized services	Evaluation and exchange meetings with medical structures and representatives of women/girls living with disabilities Facilitated discussions between GBV & non-GBV specialists
	Strengthening referrals to specialized services	Emergency fund for survivors Guidelines to support referrals for women with disabilities Raise awareness of services and reduce stigma about accessing services Training men on GBV to reduce stigma and support survivors to access services
Medium to Long-term Support	Provision of psychosocial support	Provision of psychosocial activities in “spaces of trust”

Technical Advisory Group:

Association des femmes juristes congolaises (AFEJUCO)
Women for Equal Chances (WEC Congo)
Héritiers de la justice
Centre de réadaptation pour Personnes Handicapées Heri Kwetu (CRPHK)
Fondation Panzi RDC
Action pour la promotion de l’entreprenariat féminin (APEF)
World Vision
Association des femmes des media (AFEM)
Alert International
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)