Target Population: Government institutions and key community stakeholders involved in gender equality and GBV prevention.

Location: All regions of Somaliland.

Duration: January 2018 to June 2019.

Donor / Partner: AmplifyChange-UK.

Primary Goal: Strengthen the policy and evidence environment for addressing gender-based violence and advancing gender equality in Somaliland.

Rationale & Context

ACRIF integrates gender equality across its programs and works to address prevalent gender-based violence (GBV). With support from AmplifyChange, ACRIF supported the Government of Somaliland in developing the National Gender Policy and engaged a broad range of stakeholders through advocacy, awareness, public dialogue, and evidence-generation activities.

Key Project Components

1. GBV Evidence Generation

• Train enumerators and community guides for a GBV survey.
• Conduct field data collection to strengthen the evidence base for GBV programming and policy.

2. Advocacy and Public Engagement

• Conduct public debates and forums involving traditional leaders, religious leaders, youth representatives, women’s groups, university students, and human rights organizations.
• Engage community members, religious scholars, traditional leaders, women’s organizations, youth networks, media, parliamentarians, and academia through advocacy and awareness workshops.

3. Policy Development Support

• Support the Government of Somaliland in developing the National Gender Policy.

Expected Outcomes

• Stakeholders have stronger capacity to contribute to GBV evidence generation, advocacy, and awareness.
• Diverse community and institutional actors are engaged in dialogue on GBV and gender equality.
• A national policy framework is supported to advance longer-term gender equality and GBV prevention efforts.