Women-led organisations leading from the front: Coordinating responses to gender-based violence in Somalia and South Sudan

Abstract

abstract Responding to gender-based violence (GBV) in fragile and conflict affected states is highly complex and coordination is critical. Both South Sudan and Somalia have unique challenges in providing services. Despite women being disproportionately affected by GBV, there are many barriers to women-led organisations (WLOs) taking leadership roles. Through a feminist participatory action research project with Women for Change (WFC) in South Sudan and Active in Development Aid (ADA) in Somalia (supported by Trócaire, United Nations Population Fund and the Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance), barriers to the participation of WLOs in leadership structures coordinating responses to GBV were identified and addressed, and a resource package was produced. WFC and ADA both went on a unique journey in asserting their leadership roles, developing their leadership skills, and raising the voices of WLOs. The impact of their leadership positions through the project had a knock-on effect, and both organisations have increased visibility and been able to insert women’s realities — including GBV — into other interventions. This article discusses the importance of women-led solutions addressing GBV in fragile and conflict-ridden states, and provides recommendations for increasing women’s voice, leadership and action.