Story from the field: "The reality is that change takes time, especially when it involves shifting behaviours and perspectives."
Penina Gathuri, a PSEA & SH Programme Specialist, is stationed in Zambia with UNFPA, where the ongoing drought crisis has heightened the risk of sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) and gender-based violence (GBV). In this interview, Penina shares insights on the challenges and successes of implementing protection mechanisms for vulnerable populations, particularly women and girls, and underscores the importance of ensuring that protection from SEA is well-integrated into the wider humanitarian response.
Penina Gathuri - Sensitising women & young girls on sexual exploitation and abuse at a cash distribution location
Posted on 16 Oct 2024
Context on humanitarian situation in Zambia, provided by UNFPA (deployment partner):
Zambia is facing a severe drought which is the worse in decades. The President of the Republic of Zambia declared the 2023/2024 rainfall season’s drought as a National Disaster and Emergency on 29th February 2024. Between April and September, an estimated 4.95 million people (29% of the population) are facing high levels of acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 or above). This includes about 84,000 people facing critical levels, classified as IPC Phase 4 (Emergency) and 4.87 million people facing crisis levels, classified as IPC Phase 3 (Crisis). The affected populations require urgent response action to fill their food needs and to protect and save lives and livelihoods. Of the 94 districts analysed, 82 are classified in Phase 3 with the rest of the districts being classified as IPC Phase 2 (Stressed).
As with previous seasons, the current vulnerability in Zambia is largely driven by climate related shocks, the high incidence of poverty, and the prevailing macroeconomic instability. Prominent among the shocks and hazards experienced across the country were prolonged dry spells leading to drought, pest infestations (Fall Army Worms and locusts), diseases (Cassava brown streak disease), human-wildlife conflict and high input and food prices – primarily driven by external shocks. All of this occurred against a backdrop of an already unstable economy that was further shaken, driving up the cost of agricultural inputs and maize grains.
How has the drought in Zambia impacted vulnerable populations, particularly women and girls, and what are some of the challenges they face as a result?
The drought in Zambia has created significant humanitarian challenges, particularly for women and girls. According to the latest UNFPA Situation Report (Oct. 2024), over 9 million people have been affected, with more than 2 million women of reproductive age at risk. Women and girls face heightened risks of gender-based violence (GBV), maternal health complications, and sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) due to the drought. For instance, according to a recent assessment led by Disaster Mitigation and Management Unit, mothers often have to prioritise finding food over attending essential healthcare services like antenatal clinics. The situation has also led to a rise in transactional sex, especially among adolescent girls, resulting in increased pregnancies and GBV cases. Families continue to struggle in the aftermath of the drought, with many resorting to early marriages as a means of securing money and resources. UNFPA, along with partners like WFP, has responded by integrating mobile health services with food and cash distributions, ensuring vulnerable populations, including women and girls, receive both essential health care and support.
Why do you believe your role is crucial in the context of emergencies, particularly regarding GBV and SEA? As a PSEA & SH Programme Specialist, my role is critical in mitigating the risks of SEA and GBV, which escalate during emergencies. The increase in humanitarian interventions due to the drought, such as cash and food distributions, brings more humanitarian workers into contact with vulnerable populations. This can heighten the risk of exploitation. My role involves providing technical support and capacity building for establishing and strengthening effective interventions for preventing such abuses and that survivors have access to safe, confidential reporting mechanisms. For example, providing technical support to the integration of UNFPA’s integration of mobile clinics for primary health care services and GBV/SEA grievances desks, (which offers information of toll-free numbers, counselling and referrals) at distribution sites, adds a layer of protection for women and girls. The numbers reached with comprehensive services including PSEA is 703 (492 women and 211 men), for the two missions attended in Southern and Western Province, during the contract period.
My role involves providing technical support and capacity building for establishing and strengthening effective interventions for preventing abuses.
/ Penina Gathuri
How would you assess the risk of GBV, particularly SEA, in a drought-related humanitarian emergency like Zambia, and how do you ensure implementing programs to address those risks? Can you provide a practical example?The risk of GBV, including SEA, is particularly high in the context of Zambia’s drought. The stress on families due to food insecurity, coupled with the increased presence of humanitarian workers, can lead to more cases of exploitation. To address these risks, it's crucial to monitor situations on the ground and provide technical support by being present during service delivery. For instance, I conducted missions in three districts in Southern and Western Province during cash distributions, to speak directly with beneficiaries, understand their needs, and assess SEA risks.
Zambia has a diverse cultural and social context. How do you approach implementing PSEA programs in a culturally sensitive way that respects customs and norms?Understanding the local culture is crucial and coming from East Africa helps me relate to many of these cultural nuances. However, even with some shared similarities, there are differences. I always engage local colleagues, ask questions, and collaborate with them in the field to ensure cultural sensitivities are respected. Having a good translator who speaks the language of the people also helps.
How do you coordinate with different stakeholders, including government partners, NGOs, and UN agencies, to ensure an effective multi-sectoral response to the prevention of PSEA and SH?Coordination is central to our efforts, and we work closely with government partners, NGOs, and UN agencies through various coordination platforms like the protection cluster and other clusters/sectors. For example, I recently joined a field monitoring mission led by UNOCHA, to monitor Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) drought related activities by different clusters. This was to ensure PSEA is main streamed in different clusters. UNFPA’s partnership with WFP, Lifeline/Childline and Norwegian Church Aid, in integrating cash distribution with mobile clinics, counselling and referrals, further enhances the ability to reach more people while ensuring that PSEA measures are embedded across sectors. Working closely with OCHA, clusters and government counterparts allows us to strengthen coordination, making sure that PSEA programs are well-integrated into the wider humanitarian response.
Can you describe what the capacity building efforts involve? Capacity building involves strengthening skills through trainings and mentoring to improve individuals and mechanisms. This can also be through sensitisation and orientations. For example, during field missions, I conducted awareness trainings on differences between GBV and SEA to beneficiaries, helping them understand their rights and how to report incidents. We also provided trainings to government officials and field staff on PSEA prevention and response, equipping them with the knowledge to address these concerns.
In addition, we focus on strengthening the capacity of local organisations, such as one-stop centres that support GBV survivors, by offering technical guidance on how to integrate PSEA and SH into their existing services. This includes practical assistance, for example how to maintain SEA records, and selecting appropriate posters for their facilities.
We must ensure that protection from sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA) is well-integrated into the wider humanitarian response.
/ Penina Gathuri
Could you share insights that demonstrate the impact or significant achievements resulting from such deployments?One significant achievement has been the establishment/strengthening of safe reporting systems through partners, such as grievance mechanisms, with toll free lines at distribution sites for survivors of GBV and SEA. By collaborating with partners, we’ve been able to create safe spaces for survivors to report incidents confidentially. These efforts have improved the accessibility and trustworthiness of the systems, ensuring that they are functional during future distributions.
What have been the main challenges for you so far, and how did you overcome them?One of the main challenges has been that sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) is less well-known compared to GBV. Many people, even within the humanitarian field, tend to minimise or overlook the issue, partly because it often involves humanitarian workers themselves. For instance, if a service provider or worker demands favours in exchange for services, individuals need to understand that they have the right to report it. Capacity building is key to raising awareness about these issues and ensuring that reporting mechanisms are trusted and used. Changing of behaviours and perspectives is an ongoing effort. However, we are making progress and we are working to build on it further.
What has been a key learning that this deployment has taught you?One key lesson has been the importance of patience. It is important to go with the pace of the environment. While you may want to see quick progress, especially when working on a short-term contract, the reality is that change takes time, especially when it involves shifting behaviours and perspectives. Understanding and adjusting to the local pace is essential.
What are your thoughts on the long-term sustainability of PSEA and SH interventions in humanitarian emergencies, especially in the context of climate-induced crises like drought?Long-term sustainability depends on empowering local communities and partners. While humanitarian workers may come and go, it's important to equip local actors with the knowledge and tools to continue the work. This includes implementing policies, securing adequate funding, and ensuring a multi-sectoral response. Empowering the community to take ownership of these interventions is key to ensuring long-term impact.
You recently met with Maria from our Humanitarian Response Roster when she was on a monitoring mission to Zambia. Yes, it was a great experience to have an in-person interaction with the Standby Roster, which has supported me throughout three deployments. Meeting Maria allowed us to exchange insights and ideas on how to improve our response on the ground. I am also deeply grateful for the support I’ve received from UNFPA. UNFPA has played a key role in providing both financial resources and support, enabling us to implement more effective PSEA & SH interventions.
Empowering the community to take ownership of these interventions is key to ensuring long-term impact.
