NAIROBI, Kenya, Dec 11- The director of fund management services at the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF), Viridiana Wasike, has advocated for collaborative efforts from both government and non-state actors (NSA) in financing rescue centers.
Speaking during the 2nd Annual Shelters and Helplines Engagement Forum, Wasike lauded the Safe Home Safe Spaces Campaign, stating it will help victims of gender-based violence find protection and support.
She affirmed that the campaign will help strengthen government efforts in addressing the increasing cases of GBV, particularly those targeting women.
“As a government Institution we have shelters and rescue centres in different counties but the resourcing part of the shelters and the funding is a very critical element that we are all looking at and this will take a collective action from all of us,” stated Wasike.
The forum hosted by Ushindi Empowerment Group, a women-led non-governmental organisation with support from the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives, focused on ‘Strengthening the Survivor Support System with Focus on Shelters and Helplines.’
The Director of the Ushindi Empowerment Group, Nafula Wafula, highlighted the crucial role that GBV rescue centers play in engaging the victims in the empowerment programs to improve their lives and speed up the recovery process as well as sharing evidence-based strategies for survivor support.
She emphasised the need of securing donor lease agreements necessary to finance rescue centres that provide assistance to GBV victims and survivors.
The event, which was part of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, aimed to strengthen collaboration among GBV support systems by engaging leaders at the grassroots level to help eliminate GBV.
The forum gathered leaders and stakeholders to enhance GBV referral pathways and celebrated the achievements of 20 women leaders from Nairobi, Kajiado, and Kiambu counties.
