L-PRES holds workshop on gender-based violence prevention in Kano
The Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support (L-PRES) Project in Kano State has organized a one-day sensitization workshop for Project Implementation Unit (PIU) staff.
SolaceBase reports that the training aimed to equip participants with a deeper understanding of gender-based violence (GBV) and sexual exploitation to prevent such issues effectively.
The workshop, held on Thursday in Kano, was themed “Prevention of Sexual Abuse and Harassment (PSEAH), Gender-Based Violence (GBV), Referral Pathways, and Signing of the Code of Conduct on ‘Do No Harm’,” where all the PIU staff attended the event.
Speaking at the event, the National Gender Specialist of L-PRES, Hajiya Fatimatu Aliyu, explained that addressing gender issues within the livestock project is crucial to combating marginalization and violence.
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“We included gender-focused initiatives to enlighten people about GBV and marginalization. The workshop also required staff to sign a code of conduct, ensuring respect for human dignity and preventing violence or harassment,” she said.
Hajiya Fatimatu emphasized the importance of educating host communities on GBV to foster awareness and prevention.
She noted that many women face marginalization in farming and livestock rearing despite their significant contributions.
“In most homes, women are actively engaged in rearing chickens, goats, and sheep. We want them to benefit from L-PRES initiatives,” she said.
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She highlighted the project’s goal of increasing women’s participation in livestock activities to at least 30%, compared to the current figure of under 10%.
“Our aim is for women to be economically independent and enhance livestock productivity, which will contribute to national economic growth. Neglecting any gender in development initiatives is counterproductive,” she added.
Dr. Salisu Inuwa, Kano State Project Coordinator for L-PRES, represented by Dr. Ahmad Abubakar, Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist, stressed the importance of the workshop.
He noted that the interaction between male and female stakeholders during project implementation necessitates measures to prevent sexual harassment and abuse.
“In some project activities, such as construction, training, or workshops, there’s often a mix of genders.
“It’s essential to ensure equal opportunities for all while preventing dominance or exploitation of one gender over another,” he said.
Dr. Ahmad explained that L-PRES has a dedicated GBV officer responsible for documenting gender-related issues, visiting project sites, and addressing grievances.
“Complaints are documented and reviewed by the Grievance Redress Committee (GRC) at the PIU level. If unresolved, they are escalated to the state level for further action,” he said.
Regarding project beneficiaries, he mentioned that the initiative targets numerous individuals and institutions, including upgrading livestock markets, poultry processing units, veterinary hospitals, and clinics.
The project also plans to construct 88 livestock watering points in targeted communities.
Hajiya Ummi Sarki Abubakar, the GBV Officer for Kano L-PRES, explained that the workshop was essential to equip PIU staff with the knowledge and tools needed to prevent GBV, sexual abuse, exploitation, and harassment.
She added that their efforts extend to protecting rural girls selling milk and boys involved in livestock activities.
“We’ve developed comprehensive plans and are mapping women across the 44 local governments to profile them, collect data, and ensure they benefit from this project. Our goal is to empower them economically and foster independence,” she said.
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