WE-Action is supporting local women to participate in decision-making processes by working with women leaders from government institutions. WEA and ISD are applying their institutional expertise to establish clearer understanding of the specific barriers and challenges around SGBV within the context of rural livelihoods, farming and women’s rights. Key to providing these services are activities geared towards male partners, male family members, and male leaders at the district level.
SeedChange and partners are creating opportunities to demonstrate how SGBV mitigation can be addressed through mapping of existing services. This includes the physical (safehouses, counseling, etc.), economic (emergency funds, loans) and political (policies, laws, by-laws, and reinforcement of these) assets to support mitigation responses.
In North Wollo, ISD and WEA are collaborating on activities that support women-led livestock management and food production practices with an agroecological approach. The heavy burden of reproductive and productive labour on women in farming households is a priority. As part of these activities, careful consideration of gendered norms and roles will form the basis for opening spaces for discussions with both male and female household members. The Seed Security Assessment and Action Planning is key to the RWCC in Ethiopia as was undertaken in January 2023.