The Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) Response Fund was established in response to South Africa’s national outcry against GBVF, amplified by the 2018 #TotalShutdown protests and the 2019 Presidential GBVF Summit, which led to the development of the National Strategic Plan on GBVF (NSP).
As part of a collective national effort, the Presidency partnered with the International Women’s Forum South Africa (IWFSA) to mobilise private sector support. The Fund was established as a strategic vehicle, set up and funded by the private sector, philanthropic, and global development organisations, to drive implementation of the NSP.
The Fund exists to mobilise resources, support community-based organisations, strengthen accountability, and enable coordinated, multi-sectoral action to end GBVF in South Africa.
Research and Information Management
Five-Year Outcomes: Improved understanding of the extent and
Research and Information Management
Five-Year Outcomes:
- Improved understanding of the extent and nature of GBVF, broadly and in relation to specific groups and forms in South Africa;
- Adoption of GBV policies and programming interventions that are informed by existing evidence-based research;
- GBVF related information across different government management information systems, is readily used to address systemic challenges and facilitate effective solutions and responses.
Economic Power
Five-Year Outcomes: Accelerated initiatives that address women’s unequal
Economic Power
Five-Year Outcomes:
- Accelerated initiatives that address women’s unequal economic and social position, through access to government and private sector procurement, employment, housing, access to land, financial resources and other income generating initiatives;
- Safe workplaces that are free of violence against women and LGBTQIA+ persons, including but not limited to sexual harassment;
- Demonstrated commitment through policy interventions, by the South African state, private sector and other key stakeholders to eliminate the impact of economic drivers of GBV;
- Strengthened child maintenance and related support systems to address the economic vulnerability of women.
Response, Care, Support and Healing
Five-Year Outcomes: Strengthened existing response, care and support
Response, Care, Support and Healing
Five-Year Outcomes:
- Strengthened existing response, care and support services by the state and civil society in ways that are victim-centred and survivor-focused to facilitate recovery and healing;
- Secondary victimisation is eliminated through addressing specific individual and systemic factors that drive it;
- Victims feel supported by the system to access the necessary psychosocial, material and other support required to assist them with their healing;
- Strengthened community and institutional responses to provide integrated care and support to GBV survivors and their families that takes into account linkages between substance abuse and HIV and AIDS.
Justice, Safety and Protection
Five-Year Outcomes: All GBV survivors are able to
Justice, Safety and Protection
Five-Year Outcomes:
- All GBV survivors are able to access efficient and sensitive criminal justice that is quick, accessible, responsive and gender inclusive;
- Strengthened capacity within the criminal justice system to address all impunity, effectively respond to femicide and facilitate justice for GBV survivors;
- Amended legislation related to GBV areas that build on legislative reforms initiated under the ERAP.
Prevention and Rebuilding Social Cohesion
Five-Year Outcomes: Strengthened delivery capacity in South Africa
Prevention and Rebuilding Social Cohesion
Five-Year Outcomes:
- Strengthened delivery capacity in South Africa to roll out evidence-based prevention programmes;
- Changed behaviour and social norms within key groups as a result of the rollout of evidence-based prevention interventions;
- Shifts away from toxic masculinities towards embracing positive alternative approaches for expressing masculinities and other sexual and gender identities, within specific communities/groups;
- Optimally harnessed Violence Against Children (VAC) programmes that have an impact on GBV eradication;
- Increased cross fertilisation and integration of prevention interventions on violence against LGBTQIA+ persons with broader GBVF prevention and violence prevention interventions;
- Strengthened programming that addresses the restoration of human dignity, builds caring communities and responds to historic and collective trauma;
- Public spaces are made safe and violent free for all, particularly women and children.
Accountability, Coordination and Leadership
Five-Year Outcomes: Bold leadership, strengthened accountability across government
Accountability, Coordination and Leadership
Five-Year Outcomes:
- Bold leadership, strengthened accountability across government and society that responds to GBVF strategically with clear messaging and adequate technical and financial resources;
- Strengthened multi-sectoral coordination and collaboration across different tiers of government and sections of society based on relationships of trust that give effect to the pillars of the NSP.
