Integrating the Response to GBV, Human Immunodeficiency Virus, and Economic Marginalization of Swati Women

The Women and Girls Empowered (WAGE) Integrating the Response to Gender-based Violence, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), and Economic Marginalization of Swati Women initiative was implemented by Grameen Foundation and the American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative (ABA ROLI) from 2020-2022.

The initiative was a multi-phased program working at the intersection of gender-based violence (GBV) and women's economic empowerment (WEE) in Eswatini. The WAGE program worked strategically with civil society organizations (CSOs), government, and private sector partners across three core pillars: access to justice, prevention, and protection, with a focus on legal reform, holistic service provision, and addressing harmful gender norms with key populations. The program ensured that economic strengthening (ES) programs do not result in GBV or other unintended consequences for women beneficiaries.

Phase I (2020 – 2021)

WAGE engaged with local stakeholders on legal reform priorities and advocated for improved access to legal aid for Swati women at risk of or affected by GBV and HIV. WAGE also prioritized support to local partners through training on harmful gender norms and the provision of small grants to conduct community outreach and education on gender equality. Additionally, WAGE established facilitated connections between gender-focused CSOs to improve GBV service coordination.

Phase II (2021-2022)

Building on lessons learned and momentum from Phase I, WAGE continued to advocate for improved laws to protect Swati women and educate lawyers, CSOs, government actors, and the private sector about the importance of legal reform and legal aid in Eswatini. WAGE also continued to build CSO capacity on GBV and WEE integration, raise community awareness on gender equality, and improve care for GBV survivors.

Three of the program's goals were:

• Strengthen the collective capacity of CSOs, first responders, service providers, and lawyers to improve legal protections for women affected by or at risk of GBV and HIV.
• Promote effective GBV prevention strategies.
•  Provide holistic services to economically active women, including referrals to GBV survivors.

Under this initiative, ABA ROLI: 

•  Supported the government and CSOs to change the Legal Practitioners Act which effectively bans legal aid in Eswatini. By amending the Act, ABA ROLI would contribute to the availability of qualified legal assistance to women and children’s victims of violence, and other indigent citizens unable to afford private legal representation.
• Partnered with CSOs and community members to envelop a “GBV Charter” of commitments for citizens and leaders in politics and industry to sign on to raise awareness about the high instance and high cost of GBV in Eswatini. 
•  Targeted the youth (high school and college-age participants) through relevant and engaging online and social media discussions and events around important issues relating to relationships, GBV, respect and gender norms. 
•  Trained young fathers and communities on the notion of “positive fatherhood” and the importance of equality in the household through fatherhood workshops and a national letter writing campaign and photography competition on fatherhood.