DRC: Local Women group's advocacy influencing the health center to be built

By Alice Bikuba, CARE DRC Reporting and Communication Officer.

Fabiola Kambere in her field at Sake/CARE International in DRC.

“I am more than a rural woman because through the Village Savings  Loan Association Network I take part in advocating for my community and results are visible.” - Fabiola, Faida Yetu VSLAN

 

Fabiola is a member of the Faida Yetu Network of Village Savings and Credit Associations (VSLAN) set up by CARE's Gender Equality Women Empowerment Program (GEWEP) in 2019. The Faida Yetu RAVEC, of which Fabiola is a member, is made up of women who advocate for the implementation of the joint plan to improve the health center (CS) in Kaduki (Sake). This advocacy led to the mobilization of funds to purchase a plot and influence the direction of funding from the health structure development program (PDSS) to the construction of a maternity building, a placenta pit, and a latrine at CS Kaduki.

 

These advocacy actions are carried out in the context of supporting the implementation of the joint service improvement plan developed by GEWEP through the activities of the community Score Card (CSC). The GEWEP program has set up eight alliances of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and VSLAN in the program's implementation zones (Sake, Masisi, Rutshuru, Kayna, Lubero and Nyiragongo). These alliances work to promote the rights of women and girls. Ten joint service improvement plans have been drawn up and are currently being supported by these alliances. GEWEP also works with the alliances to promote women's access to decision-making positions such as board chairmanship. Fabiola is a member of the women's leadership team, which conducts advocacy campaigns for the promotion of women's rights, peaceful participation, and civic involvement.

 

Fabiola Kambere caring for her farm at Sake/CARE International

The overall goal of the GEWEP program is that 90,000 women and girls living in North Kivu will exercise their socio-economic, civil, and political rights by 2025. Through its result 2: CSOs have increased capacity to defend women's rights, participation, governance, and social responsibility. The program strengthens the capacities of grassroots organizations (VSLAN, local CSOs and coalitions) to become the legitimate voice of their members. CSO/ VSLAN alliances created during the previous cycle of GEWEP are supported in evidence-based advocacy activities. The capacities of implementing partners will also be strengthened. The program also strengthens the government's capacities at a territorial level in terms of gender and women's rights and supports its collaboration with CSOs.