GBVF Response Fund assists over 17 000 survivors in first four months

Tangible progress is being achieved by funded grant partners in implementing programmes and initiatives in the fight against gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) in South Africa.

This is according to the first progress report by those organisations to the Waterfall City-based independent, private-sector-led GBVF Response Fund (the Fund).

The progress report for March to June 2022 showed that while it was still early days in South Africa’s multi-sectoral fightback, the Fund and its grant partners are making a significant impact in communities most affected by the country’s ‘second-pandemic’.

While the report only included data on the work of 78% of the Fund’s grant partners to date, it showed that as many as 17 453 beneficiaries received support across all programmes.

Since being launched in February 2021, the Fund has been raising funds from donor partners across the private sector, assessing grant partner applicants and recipients to ensure they match the Fund’s objectives, disbursing funds and tracking progress closely.

Partners were selected based on their ability to provide support and implement programmes that prevent GBVF, rebuild social cohesion and improve and enhance justice, safety and protection for survivors.

The report shows that 114 grants were approved, with R35.9 million disbursed to date. The grants were allocated to 110 community-based organisations (CBOs) and four intermediary organisations. As many as 29 of the CBOs were shown to be operating in GBVF hotspots, and they were able to reach 20 641 people.

“CBOs operating in hotspots had higher success rates with reporting GBVF cases and securing protection orders. It was especially encouraging to see beneficiaries saying they have been positively influenced and empowered – particularly those who have been provided with psychosocial support and legal services,” said Fund CEO Lindi Dlamini.

While there was still a need to increase the results to meet all expectations and targets – especially on changing behaviour and rebuilding social cohesion – the Fund said CBOs were being consulted to determine their capacities and the potential need for additional resources.

“The structural and behavioural challenges ahead remain immense, but what our progress to date shows is that, when we all work towards a common goal, lives can be saved, futures nurtured and protected, and perpetrators put behind bars,” said Dlamini.

The data showed that the majority of beneficiaries reached were females (10 995), which is aligned with the targets of most of the CBOs’ programmes.

However, 6 458 males were also reached during this reporting period, while African individuals made up the majority (79%) of the beneficiaries. Notably, 42% of beneficiaries were youth.

“What is needed now is for everybody, everywhere, to play a greater role to move South Africa more swiftly onto the road of creating safe spaces, for vulnerable members of society in our lifetime.”

Related Article:

https://www.citizen.co.za/midrand-reporter/308152/police-walk-for-awareness-campaign/