SIVIO rolls out fund to deal with deepening GBV crisis

SAMANTHA MADE

The SIVIO Institute has launched the “We Are One Fund”, a nationwide platform designed to consolidate corporate and individual donations into a shared pool dedicated to strengthening frontline responses to Zimbabwe’s worsening Gender-Based Violence (GBV) crisis.

The fund comes at a time when GBV remains one of Zimbabwe’s most urgent social emergencies. According to the Zimbabwe National Strategy to Prevent and Address GBV (2023–2030), cases of physical, emotional, sexual, and economic abuse continue to escalate.

Data from the country’s national GBV referral network shows that more than 1,500 cases are reported every month, pushing annual figures beyond 18,000. Yet the organisations that provide shelter, legal support, counselling, emergency medical care, and rapid-response services remain severely and chronically underfunded.

The We Are One Fund aims to close these gaps by directing resources toward three critical areas—shelters and safe spaces, access to justice, and emergency and first-response services—ensuring that frontline organisations have the means to continue providing lifesaving support.

Speaking at the launch, SIVIO Institute Director Tendai Murisa said the initiative is a direct response to the rising incidence of GBV, which surged during the COVID-19 period and now affects “1 in 4 women” in Zimbabwe.

“We’re taking advantage of the 16 days of activism to highlight the challenges we face in this space,” he said. “There are three issues to bring to the floor: the increase in GBV numbers, the challenges faced by organisations responding to GBV, and the uncertainty around funding.”

Murisa underscored that sustainable GBV response requires local ownership and local financing. “At what point as Zimbabweans are we going to own problems and try to respond to problems? … We’ve been relying on external partners, but now it’s time for us to mobilise local resources.”

He announced that the fund has secured a US$10,000 matching grant from an anonymous donor, which is expected to significantly boost individual contributions. “We have an anonymous donor who has committed $10,000 to the individual giving platform. And that donation has to do with matching funds. For every dollar raised, we commit that by the time it reaches the recipient, it will be $2, up until we get to US$10,000.”

Murisa emphasised that GBV is not an issue affecting women alone, but one that cuts across the entire society. “It’s not a woman’s problem, it’s a society-wide problem. We need to move resources quickly towards those areas of need.”

Zimbabwe Women Lawyers Association (ZWLA) Executive Director Abigail Matsvayi highlighted the barriers survivors face from the moment violence occurs. She noted that many survivors report late, and their natural instinct is to wash, which compromises crucial forensic evidence needed for successful prosecution.

“When we are responding to GBV, one of the things we talk about is that GBV is a health emergency, and it being a health emergency, the starting point should be access to health services,” she said.

Matsvayi stressed the need for greater public awareness around evidence preservation and the importance of seeking immediate medical care. She said frontline institutions responsible for handling emergency response and forensic evidence gathering must be adequately resourced to ensure survivors have a fair chance at justice.

She also spoke candidly about the intimidating nature of Zimbabwe’s court system for GBV survivors. “If we struggle to talk about sexual experiences where we’ve consented, we are in open court, you tell me, you’re the young girl and you’re in court and everybody is saying, ‘Explain what happened to you on this particular day’,” she said. “It’s quite an intimidating environment, let alone having to talk about your sexual experience, which was not by consent.”

Her remarks underscored the need for simplified procedures, more survivor-friendly courts, and expanded access to justice for women and girls in rural areas with limited resources. She also noted ongoing efforts to strengthen DNA evidence collection and improve the justice system’s overall response to GBV cases.

British Embassy Harare Social Development Adviser Caitlin Spence lauded the launch, describing GBV as “a hidden crisis in Zimbabwe” that demands open dialogue, social awareness, and long-term commitment. She said Zimbabwe’s response can draw inspiration from countries like South Africa, where conversations around GBV have been mainstreamed.

Spence highlighted the British Embassy’s practical support for the fund, confirming that the Embassy is covering the costs of the online platform so that “every cent raised goes directly to the 15 organisations” listed.

“This is a brilliant initiative by the SIVIO Institute. We want to back Zimbabwean-led solutions,” she said, emphasising that GBV is “an issue that affects both Zimbabwe and the UK”.

The SIVIO Institute said the We Are One Fund is designed to strengthen the frontline systems that support thousands of survivors each year. The organisation is calling on corporates, development institutions, SMEs, and individual citizens to participate in the national drive by contributing financially or through in-kind support, including food, hygiene supplies, transportation, technology, and employee volunteer programmes.

The Institute stressed that GBV is a national crisis requiring a united response, and the success of the fund will depend on the collective commitment of Zimbabweans working together to protect survivors, uphold justice, and ensure every GBV response organisation has the resources needed to carry out its essential work.