The ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ค๐จ๐๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ผ๐๐ฉ๐๐ค๐ฃ ๐๐ค๐ฌ๐๐ง๐๐จ ๐๐๐๐ช๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐ค๐ก๐๐ฃ๐๐ ๐ผ๐๐๐๐ฃ๐จ๐ฉ ๐๐ค๐ข๐๐ฃ ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ฉ๐ ๐๐๐ project, implemented by COWLHA from September 2011 to August 2014 was a huge success. With funding from the United Nations Trust Fund (UNTF), this project was focused on reducing intimate partner violence (IPV) among women living with HIV in 12 districts across Malawi, including Nsanje, Thyolo, Blantyre, Balaka, Dedza, Lilongwe, Salima, Ntchisi, Nkhatabay, Rumphi, Karonga and Mzimba, creating a safer environment for these women and promoting their rights.
๐๐ง๐๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ง๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฆ
Gender-based violence (GBV) remains a critical challenge in Malawi, with harmful cultural practices, societal norms, and stigma exacerbating the vulnerability of women living with HIV. Many women face physical, psychological, and sexual violence from their intimate partners, often caused by their HIV status. These women are frequently left without support or legal recourse, as violence against women is still treated as a private matter in many communities.
Recognizing these challenges, COWLHAโs project set out with a mission to address IPV head-on by fostering an environment where women could feel safe, empowered, and supported. The project was implemented in the aforementioned 12 districts of Malawi, which had high rates of violence and limited support systems for survivors.
๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ญ๐ข-๐ ๐๐๐๐ญ๐๐ ๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐๐๐ก ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐๐๐ฎ๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ข๐จ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐๐
COWLHAโs approach to reducing violence against women living with HIV was holistic. The project aimed to:
1. Reduce intimate partner violence against women living with HIV by encouraging open dialogue and addressing key triggers of violence within relationships.
2. Increase knowledge of harmful practices and women’s rights among both women and men in the target communities.
3. Enhance COWLHAโs capacity in gender and HIV/AIDS programming, ensuring the organization was well-equipped to lead long-term change.
4. Strengthen partnerships and networks with key stakeholders such as community leaders, law enforcement, and healthcare providers to promote the elimination of violence against women.
A community-led approach was employed by the project. Leveraging engaging local facilitators, paralegals, and traditional leaders to ensure that the interventions resonated with the communitiesโ needs. These facilitators received training on gender and HIV-related issues, enabling them to raise awareness and offer support to survivors of violence,
๐๐ญ๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ญ๐จ๐ง๐๐ฌ: ๐ ๐๐๐ฆ๐-๐๐ก๐๐ง๐ ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐ก๐จ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐จ๐ ๐ฒ
At the heart of the project was the Stepping Stones methodology, a globally recognized tool that encourages open dialogue on sensitive issues like gender, sexuality, HIV, and intimate partner violence. COWLHA adapted this approach to suit the Malawian context, training 288 facilitators to lead workshops that brought men and women together to explore the root causes of violence in their relationships.
Through these workshops, couples were encouraged to communicate openly about topics that are often considered taboo, such as multiple sexual partners and the misuse of alcohol, which were identified as major triggers of violence. The sessions empowered both men and women to take responsibility for their actions and seek peaceful, respectful ways to resolve conflicts.
An inspiring case emerged from the project, where a man named Wesley, who had a history of excessive drinking and violence, attended Stepping Stones sessions with his wife, Lauma. After completing the training, Wesley realized that his behavior was abusive, and he made the decision to stop drinking and focus on rebuilding his relationship. Today, Wesley is a changed man, living peacefully with his wife and actively participating in community efforts to prevent violence.
For more insight on COWLHA’s Impact Through The Stepping Stones Program, Click Here.
๐๐๐ฒ ๐ ๐ข๐ง๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฃ๐๐๐ญโ๐ฌ ๐๐ฏ๐๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง
An independent evaluation of the project, conducted in 2015, revealed that the project had a significant impact on reducing violence in the target communities. Some key findings include:
๐๐๐๐ฎ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐ข๐ง ๐๐ข๐จ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐๐: The incidence of physical, psychological, and sexual violence decreased drastically. For example, physical violence dropped from 20% at the baseline to just 9% at the end of the project. Psychological and sexual violence also saw significant reductions.
๐๐๐ก๐๐ฏ๐ข๐จ๐ซ๐๐ฅ ๐๐ก๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ฌ: The project succeeded in fostering behavioral changes among men, particularly regarding alcohol consumption and fidelity. Many male participants reported reducing their alcohol intake and were more open to discussing relationship issues with their partners.
๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ ๐๐ฐ๐ง๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐ก๐ข๐ฉ: The use of community facilitators and paralegals was highly effective in promoting local ownership of the project. This grassroots involvement ensured that the changes were sustainable even beyond the projectโs lifespan.
๐๐ก๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ฌ: While the project was largely successful, some challenges remained. For instance, cultural resistance to condom use between intimate partners persisted, and the under-reporting of violence was still an issue. The evaluation also highlighted that the project had more success engaging women than men, reflecting a broader societal challenge in Malawi where menโs involvement in gender-related initiatives remains low.
๐๐๐ก๐ข๐๐ฏ๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ฌ, ๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ข๐ง๐๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ ๐ฎ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ ๐๐ข๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ
One of the projectโs greatest achievements was its focus on sustainability. By involving community leaders, law enforcement, and healthcare providers, the project ensured that local systems were strengthened to continue addressing violence after the project ended. Traditional leaders played a crucial role in this effort, using their influence to challenge harmful practices and advocate for womenโs rights within their communities.
Looking ahead, the evaluation recommended that COWLHA continue its efforts to secure funding to expand the project and deepen its impact. There is a need to address the cultural norms around gender and sexuality more comprehensively, as well as to enhance the capacity of facilitators and paralegals in documentation and reporting to improve the long-term monitoring of the projectโs outcomes.
๐ ๐๐๐๐ซ๐ญ๐ฒ ๐๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง & ๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐ฌ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฆ๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ง๐๐ฒ
COWLHAโs ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ค๐จ๐๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ผ๐๐ฉ๐๐ค๐ฃ project has been a transformative journey for the women and communities it has touched. By addressing the root causes of intimate partner violence, fostering open communication, and empowering women with knowledge of their rights, COWLHA has made significant strides toward reducing violence and creating a safer environment for women living with HIV.
Furthermore, the Guttmacher-Lancet Commission also describes how violence against women forms a key part in Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Violations. As our organisation moves forward, we remain committed to continuing the fight against gender-based violence and ensuring that the rights of women living with HIV, including their Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, are protected and upheld across Malawi.
To learn more about the Guttmacher-Lancet Commission, please
.