Annual Report: Protection of Women through Empowerment and Response (POWER)

Agency for International Development (USAID). The project aims to support 1,000 women and girls in rural communities within the eastern Kenema district, focusing on three main pillars: economic empowerment, social protection, and gender-based violence (GBV) response. The economic component of the project involves the establishment of 40 village savings and loans associations (VSLAs), each comprising 25 women who support savings and investment. All VSLA groups will be trained on business management skills, supporting them to develop viable businesses or expand on their existing businesses in their communities. A consultant will train IRC staff on business development, who will cascade the training to the VSLA groups. The social engagement component is centered on raising awareness about the rights of women to own and control properties, and assets. This aspect of the project will be done through Discussion Group Series (DGS) conducted by project staff in each community with VSLA members and their respective partners or trusted family members. The project will also use the Engaging Men through Accountable Practices (EMAP) methodology, targeting VSLA groups and male community members who have been identified to be very supportive of women's rights in the communities. The project is implemented in four chiefdoms: Dama, Dodo, Niawa, and Simbaru, out of the sixteen chiefdoms in the district. Five communities were selected in each chiefdom using the following criteria: GBV prevalence, the presence of social services such as schools, the presence of peripheral health centers and police posting, and communities that have never benefitted from any economic and social interventions either by IRC-SL or development actors. During the first year of the project, staff recruitment commenced, and by mid-November 2018, the full complement of seven staff for the project had been recruited and hired. This includes the four community officers, the EMAP/EA$E Specialist, the Site Manager, and the Senior Program Manager. The project started implementing activities in October 2018, and by the end of the first year, the project had made significant progress in establishing VSLAs, conducting DGS, and training IRC staff on business development. The project has also made progress in forming Women Action Groups (WAGs) and training them on GBV response and using national referral pathways in seeking justice and protection for survivors. The project has worked closely with district-level MSWGCA representatives in supporting GBV survivors through mapping of available GBV service providers in the district and through the joint monitoring of these service providers with the Ministry. The project has also established partnerships with local organizations and stakeholders, including the Ministry of Social Welfare, Gender and Children's Affairs (MSWGCA), the Sierra Leone Police, and other actors both at the district and national levels. The project has also received technical assistance from a consultant who trained IRC staff on business development. The project's achievements to date include the establishment of 20 VSLAs, with a total of 500 women participating in the VSLAs. The project has also conducted 12 DGS sessions, reaching a total of 240 women and their partners or family members. The project has also trained 20 IRC staff on business development, who will cascade the training to the VSLA groups. The project has also formed 10 WAGs, with a total of 100 women participating in the WAGs. The project has also made progress in strengthening the response, collaboration, and implementation of various national policies, including the GBV national referral pathway, the Domestic Violence Act, the Devolution of Estate Act, and the Registration of Customary Marriage and Divorce Act. The project has worked closely with district-level MSWGCA representatives in supporting GBV survivors through mapping of available GBV service providers in the district and through the joint monitoring of these service providers with the Ministry. Overall, the POWER project has made significant progress in its first year, establishing VSLAs, conducting DGS, training IRC staff on business development, forming WAGs, and strengthening the response, collaboration, and implementation of various national policies. The project is expected to continue making progress in the coming years, achieving its goal of empowering women and girls to pursue their potential, free from violence and inequality.