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Martawa Zuromaye

The Martawa Zuromaye (‘Dignity and Security’) project in northeast Nigeria supports the enhancement of survivor-centered efforts to prevent, mitigate, and respond to all forms of violence against women and girls (VAWG), early and forced marriage (EFM) and female genital mutilation and cutting (FGM/C).

Background

Protracted armed conflict in northeast Nigeria has increased violence against women and girls and reduced survivors’ access to services. To support the enhancement of survivor-centered efforts to address the root causes of violence against women and girls (VAWG), especially early and forced marriages (EFM) and female genital mutilation and cutting (FGM/C), CARE led comprehensive, coordinated efforts in targeted communities in the region. Using CARE’s innovative social change tools and community engagement processes, the Martawa Zuromaye (MZ) (‘Dignity and Security’ in the Kanuri language) project is a five-year project, funded by the Department of State, Secretary’s Office of Global Women’s Issues (S/GWI), United States Government.  

The project addresses the root causes of VAWG through building individuals’ capacity to address VAWG, mobilizing community action to challenge negative norms that perpetuate violence, and working at the state level to strengthen and facilitate implementation of supportive legislations. The project works with two partners: Trauma Healing Support Initiative (THSI) and African Youth for Peace Development and Empowerment Foundation (AFRYDEV).

Intervention

The project adopted the ecological approach to address VAWG.  

Individual level: The project trained adolescent girls and women on CARE’s Social Analysis and Action (SAA) approach, to support them understand the root causes of VAWG, be able to identify and reject VAWG, and strengthen their capacities to build networks and lead advocacy and change. The project also set up two Women and Girls’ safe spaces (WGSS) and several survivors of VAWG were supported through psychosocial counselling, case management and multisectoral referrals.  

Community level: The project addressed negative social norms that perpetuate VAWG by establishing Protection Committees for community-based, survivor-centered prevention and response. VAWG protection committees are comprised of men and women from the community, who help to drive social change through community awareness raising and sensitization and directing survivors to services as appropriate and safe.  

Systems level: To strengthen sustainability, maximize impact and promote local ownership, the project leveraged existing local partnerships in the target areas, strengthening the capacities of partners to prevent and respond to incidences of VAWG, particularly of FGM/C and EFM. Further, through intensive advocacy and collaboration with other local organizations and stakeholders, MZ worked with the Yobe state government to advocate for the passage of supportive legislations.  

 

Program achievements

Participants that interacted with the Martawa Zuromaye project had various positive shifts, Attitudes and impact:

participant’s shift in attitudes and perceptions on VAWG

participant’s shift in attitudes and perceptions on VAWG

community members & leaders’ shifting perceptions on VAWG

community members & leaders’ shifting perceptions on VAWG

  • By September 2024, 210 VAWG cases were reported and comprehensively supported with VAWG services such as health, legal, psycho-social counseling, and referrals  
  • The Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act was implemented in the Yobe State in 2022. This led to local authorities committing funds to establish 6 secondary schools for girls and providing scholarship quotas for girls in tertiary colleges. 
  • More than 40 CSOs have been supported by the project to participate in legislative proceedings and engage with advocacy with the state level legislative committees. 
  • By September 2024, 265 VAWG awareness sessions were held in the community where these issues were discussed.  
  • By September 2024 there were 67 instances of Protection Committees responding to cases of VAWG at the community level.  

Resources

Martawa Zuromaye SAA Post Training Evaluation Report

In conflict-affected Northeast (NE) Nigeria, the destructive influence of Boko Haram has left GBV-focused civil society organizations (CSOs) struggling to effectively prevent and respond to violence. The Martawa Zuromaye project is employing the principles of its globally recognized program to empower survivor-centered, women-led civil CSOs and local communities to more effectively fight GBV. This report assesses the impact of training local partners.

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Learnings from Martawa Zuromaye: Changing the lives of women and girls

Martawa Zuromaye (‘Dignity and Security’ in the Kanuri language), is a five year project implemented in Yobe state northeast Nigeria, focused on addressing and reducing these different forms of violence against women and girls (VAWG) in the region. Each brief details the different stakeholders including girls, and community leaders that have been positively impacted by the project, and becoming active changemakers within their community.

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