The USAID Harmonia: Communities Ending Gender-Based Violence Activity Quarterly Report April – June 2023

The Activity aims to end Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in communities by applying a people-to-people approach, working towards more equitable gender relations and improved gender-sensitive health services for women in 15 villages and seven health centers in Ermera municipality, and 16 villages and three health centers in Liquica municipality. The Activity focuses on increasing knowledge and awareness, shifting attitudes and social norms regarding GBV in communities, and enhancing respectful care in health settings for women experiencing GBV. Community activities involve the development of community action plans by village leadership, identifying specific GBV-related issues in their community and actions that communities can take to make positive change. The health sector intervention involves intensive and regular follow-up training on responding to GBV, with the specific aim of enhancing the ability of health providers to provide respectful, appropriate, and sensitive care to clients experiencing GBV. The Timor-Leste government is a key partner in the implementation of the USAID Harmonia Activity, specifically the Ministry of Health (MoH), National Institute for Health (INS), Ministry of Social Solidarity and Inclusion (MSSI), and Secretary of State for Equality and Inclusion (SEII). The Activity has made significant progress in implementing its work plan, including the completion of GBV Follow-Up After Training (FUAT) session 10 in Ermera and FUAT session 14 in Ermera and Liquica, presentation of assessment results of the GBV health facility readiness assessment at both national and municipal levels, completion of the Community Action Plan (CMP) annual evaluation in 16 villages, and completion of the CMP Endline Survey in 31 villages. The Activity has also commenced the CMP schools intervention in Ermera municipality, which aims to address GBV in schools and promote a safe and supportive learning environment for students. The Responding to GBV Learning Labs/FUAT work plan activity goal is to implement GBV Learning Labs/FUAT in 10 health facilities, with the objective of increasing health provider knowledge about GBV, reviewing the information provided in the modules, discussing and debriefing on recent cases, conducting health facility readiness assessments and follow-up, collecting case and referral data, and identifying solutions to challenges experienced. The GBV Health Facility Readiness Assessment conducted in late 2022 and early 2023 came up with recommendations that were presented to a national workshop in April 2023, followed by a municipal-level workshop in Liquica and Ermera to discuss challenges and opportunities to implement the assessment's recommendations. The Activity has also completed FUAT session 10 in Ermera and Liquica for Module 14, which focuses on self-care and the broader health system, emphasizing the importance of self-care for health providers and the need for health facilities to have sufficient capacity to respond to patients experiencing violence. The Activity's future directions include continued implementation of its work plan, with activities such as GBV Learning Lab post-test and post-session in 10 health centers in Ermera and Liquica, GBV final health facility readiness assessment in health facilities in Ermera and Liquica, preparation of CMP Endline Survey report, preparation of final report of GBV Learning Lab pre and post-test results, preparation of final report on GBV mapping in Timor-Leste, completion of CMP schools intervention in Ermera and Liquica, and ongoing monthly data collection in health facilities of GBV case registrations and GBV case referral. The Activity expects to achieve two milestones: GBV Learning Lab Post-session conducted (x 10 facilities) – July 2023, and Draft Final Report – August 2023.