From February 24 to 28, 2025, The Great People of South Africa had the privilege of attending an intensive and empowering training alongside other community-based organizations (CBOs) based in the Western Cape.
This training was organized for CBOs funded by the GBVF Response Fund, in partnership with the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). The experience was nothing short of transformative, equipping us with essential knowledge and tools to enhance our work in addressing gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) in our communities.
The training was held at the Mosaic offices in Wynberg, and we extend our heartfelt gratitude to them for hosting us.
The first two days of training focused on the Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment (PSEAH). We delved deep into understanding the PSEAH policy, which outlines the expectations, systems, and processes necessary to prevent the sexual exploitation of vulnerable individuals we work with, including community members, staff, and volunteers.
The training emphasized the importance of accountability, ethical conduct, and immediate action in response to any incidents. As CBOs working in the GBVF sector, it is imperative that we are fully aware of these policies to ensure a safe and ethical working environment for everyone involved.
The sessions were engaging and interactive, fostering rich discussions among participants on how to implement these policies effectively within our respective organizations. This critical training was facilitated by the knowledgeable and experienced Xoliswa Williams, who guided us through these vital discussions with clarity and expertise.
A highlight of the first two days was the visit from Louise, representing the British High Commission. It was truly an honor to have her join us, and her enthusiasm was contagious. Not only did she take the time to engage with various CBOs, but she also ensured that CBOs participate in interviews conducted by the British Commissioner's media team.
Louise even sang and danced with us, and I must say, she has some serious African rhythm! Her presence reinforced the commitment of international partners in strengthening grassroots efforts to combat GBVF, making the experience even more special.
The last two days of the training were dedicated to Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, Learning, and Adaptation (MERLA). This segment of the training provided invaluable insights into how we, as CBOs, can track the performance of our projects, evaluate their outcomes, and adapt our strategies based on evidence and learning.
We explored the importance of designing robust log frames that help us structure our programs effectively, set measurable goals, and assess our progress in a systematic way.
MERLA is not just about compliance—it is about strengthening our impact and ensuring that our interventions are responsive to the needs of the communities we serve. This crucial training was expertly facilitated by Braimoh Bello and Pinky Mgobozi, whose expertise and engaging approach made the complex concepts accessible and actionable.
Through practical exercises, we gained hands-on experience in developing monitoring tools, designing evaluation frameworks, and understanding the critical role of data in shaping programmatic decisions. The facilitators were exceptional, guiding us through complex concepts with clarity and making the sessions highly interactive.
Their ability to simplify these crucial processes ensured that we could actively participate and apply what we learned to our work.
This training was a game-changer for all of us. It not only reinforced the importance of ethical practices and accountability in our work but also empowered us with the tools to enhance the effectiveness of our programs.
Moving forward, we are better equipped to report accurately, measure our impact, and continuously improve our efforts in tackling GBVF.
A heartfelt thank you to the GBVF Response Fund team, sis Tirhani, Khensani and bhuti Anele, FCDO, the Mosaic offices for hosting us, and all the facilitators who made this training possible.
The knowledge we have gained will undoubtedly strengthen our organizations and, more importantly, the communities we serve.
Here’s to a future of informed action, accountability, and impactful change!
