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USAID Awards WJEI/EMPOWER "Challenge Funds" and Donates Equipment to Benin to Fight Gender-based Violence

Acting USAID Director, Janet Schulman, left, remits a Challenge Funds check to a WJEI/EMPOWER beneficiary.

Cotonou, September 24 and 28, 2009: Janet Schulman, USAID Acting Mission Director, presided over two donation ceremonies under the auspices of the U.S. Government Women’s Justice and Empowerment Initiative. On September 24, USAID’s WJEI/EMPOWER "Challenge Funds" activity distributed $100,000 in checks to 22 Centers for Social Protection (CSP) and civil society organizations in Benin. Theses funds will help the organizations fight violence against women. A previous award, donated in April 2009, is already benefiting 15 organizations that assist women victims of violence. During a second donation ceremony, which took place on September 28, 2009, Ms. Janet Schulman, Acting Mission Director, co-chaired a hand-over of 60 million CFA ($142,000) worth of equipment at a ceremony held at the Ministry of Family and National Solidarity.

The donation consists of several sets of furniture, office supplies, electric generators, and communication and awareness raising materials for training in communication for behavior change.

In her remarks, Ms. Schulman reminded recipients of their obligation to make the best use of this equipment in the interest of women victims of gender-based violence.

In Benin, as in most countries in sub-Saharan Africa, organizations of civil society and public institutions have limited resources. With these donations, USAID addresses the lack of resources that often limits and hampers the capacity of these public and private structures to extend medical, psycho social and legal assistance to women victims of violence.

The Government of the United States of America supports the Beninese Government's efforts to motivate civil society organizations and CSPs, and the municipalities that stand out the most for their action in the fight against gender-based violence.

Through USAID, the EMPOWER project works to strengthen the technical and material capacity of these organizations to better address violence against women and girls and improve services for victims of violence. EMPOWER selected the awardees through a competitive process.

The EMPOWER project of USAID is part of the Presidential Initiative for Women’s Justice and Empowerment (WJEI). EMPOWER is implemented by CARE International in the 77 communes of Benin with the objective to reduce violence against women and girls.

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