Engaging Men, Boys and Institutions (EMBI) to Promote Gender Equality

Project Title: Engaging Men, Boys and Institutions (EMBI) to Promote Gender Equality

Funder: We Effect

Duration: Four years (2013-2016).

Project Sites: Maralal, Timau, Wote, Nanyuki, Voi, Mombasa, Iten, Ogembo (Kisii), Migori and Butere, including working with urban refugees in Nairobi.

Objectives:

This project was intended to promote gender equitable relationships by changing norms, attitudes and behaviours with an aim of reducing SGBV, and HIV & AIDS prevalence. It was aimed at strengthening communities and institutions to implement programmes targeting men and boys for prevention and response to SGBV.”

The main project outcomes were:

1. Increased understanding, openness and fairness among men and women and better relationships thus improved performance of the different roles in the community;
2. Increased response, reporting and capacity on handling SGBV issues that affect both men and women in the community;
3. Increased accountability on part of stakeholders and duty bearers in target areas (law enforcement agencies, health personnel, Teachers among others) to handle cases on SGBV and human rights violations;
4. Increased public awareness on the role of men (e.g. role modeling) in ending violence in the society and upholding human rights principles; and
5. Strengthened capacity to handle ongoing and emerging gender issues.

Under this project, key achievements were made with regards to the involvement of:

1. Religious and cultural leaders;
2. Involvement of the disabled persons;
3. Law enforcement agencies (Chiefs, Regular Police and Administration Police) ;
4. Teachers, Pupils and students (primary and secondary);
5. Programmers from different CSOs;
6. Ordinary members of the community.

The following results were also achieved as an effect of the action:

1. Increased awareness on men’s role in ending SGBV through the 16 Day’s advocacy and campaign work through Men’s Traveling Conference (MTC);
2. Capacity building of key gate keepers in the community through community education work targeting the law enforcement officers (police); the provincial administration officers – local government representatives and partners from CSOs,
3. CBOs and FBOs;
4. Chapter involvement for ADSOCK teams to enhance a robust recruitment process for men into the movement for change.