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    Integrated Comprehensive GBV Response Project

    Integrated Comprehensive GBV Response Project

    Why we conducted the project

    Across Cameroon’s North West and South West Regions, the prolonged armed crisis has displaced over two million people and fractured the social fabric of countless communities. Families have been uprooted, livelihoods destroyed, and social structures destabilized. In this fragile context, women and girls have borne a disproportionate burden; facing heightened risks of gender-based violence (GBV), sexual assault, and exploitation while struggling with the trauma of displacement and loss. Traditional protection systems have weakened, and survivors are often left with nowhere to turn for confidential, comprehensive support.

    Amidst the chaos, the influx of internally displaced persons (IDPs) into the West Region—particularly municipalities such as Bafoussam I, Dschang, Mbouda, Foumban, and Kouoptamo—has placed immense pressure on host communities. Already constrained health, legal, and psychosocial systems became overstretched, leaving thousands of women and girls without access to safe spaces or survivor-centered services. Many GBV incidents went unreported due to stigma, fear of retaliation, or a lack of awareness of existing services. The scarcity of trained personnel and coordinated referral mechanisms compounded the problem, making GBV response fragmented and ineffective.

    Before the intervention, survivors who managed to seek help often encountered service providers unequipped to offer trauma-informed care. Essential facilities lacked private counseling rooms, confidentiality safeguards, or proper documentation tools. Police and medical staff, though willing, had limited knowledge of GBV case management and mental health support. At the community level, harmful social norms and entrenched gender stereotypes perpetuated silence and tolerance of violence. Male dominance in decision-making spaces further reinforced structural inequalities, eroding the dignity and safety of women and girls.

    It was within this environment that the LUKMEF–GIZ Integrated Comprehensive GBV Response Project was conceived under the Promoting Economic and Social Participation of Internally Displaced Persons and Host Populations (PESoP) program. The project sought to respond holistically, establishing five fully functional One-Stop Shops (OSS) in key municipalities to provide integrated medical, psychosocial, and legal support, while simultaneously engaging men and boys to champion positive masculinity and reduce tolerance for GBV. 

    The intervention directly tackled systemic barriers: renovating and equipping safe spaces within hospitals, training 124 service providers, delivering 575 survivor-centered services, and engaging 993 community members in reshaping gender norms. By addressing both prevention and response, the project bridged a critical service gap that had left hundreds of survivors in silence.

    The success of this initiative demonstrates that when resources meet the will, transformation becomes inevitable. From survivors regaining their dignity to community leaders embracing gender equality, the project has shown that even in crisis settings, tangible progress is achievable through coordinated, inclusive, and well-resourced interventions.

    However, the needs remain vast. Thousands more women, men, and children across the crisis-affected regions still live without access to protection and support. The LUKMEF–GIZ experience stands as proof of concept—showing that scalable, locally-driven models can restore hope and resilience where despair once reigned.

    We invite partners and donors to join LUKMEF in scaling or replicating this model across Cameroon. 

    For partnerships and collaboration, contact: partnerships@lukmefcameroon.org 

    Tel/WhatsApp: +237 677 947 449

    Integrated Comprehensive GBV Response Project

    Start Date

    20240601

    End Date

    20250630

    Budget

    120.000

    Donor

    GIZ

    Coordinator

    Adelahide

    Sector

    GBV, Gender equality,

    Related Pillars

    Related SDGs

    Region

    West Region, Cameroon

    Localities

    • Divisions/Subdivisions/Municipalities:
      • Mifi Division – Bafoussam I Municipality
      • Menoua Division – Dschang Municipality
      • Bamboutos Division – Mbouda Municipality
      • Noun Division – Foumban Municipality
      • Noun Division – Kouoptamo Municipality
    • Communities: Local host populations and internally displaced persons (IDPs) within each municipality.

    Beneficiaries

    • Total direct beneficiaries: Over 1,600 individuals (including survivors, trainees, and community members).
    • Women and girls:  65% of direct beneficiaries.
    • IDPs: Accounted for approximately 35% of total participants.
    • Persons with Disabilities (PWDs): Represented 3–5% of total beneficiaries.
    • Children and youth (0–18 years): Around 15–20% across activities.
    • Adults (18–45 years): Majority group (over 60%).
    Main Objective To provide comprehensive Gender-Based Violence (GBV) prevention and response services to internally displaced persons (IDPs) and host communities affected by the crisis in the North West and South West Regions living across five municipalities (Foumban, Bafoussam I, Kouoptamo, Dschang, and Mbouda) in the West Region of Cameroon.   Specific Objectives
    1. To establish five GBV One-Stop Shops (OSS) within five municipal councils—each delivering services through a hybrid approach that integrates public, private, and community-based GBV service providers. These OSS were designed to provide holistic survivor-centered support, including medical care, psychosocial counseling, mental health assistance, legal aid, and livelihood referrals, ensuring confidentiality, accessibility, and dignity for survivors.
    2. To engage men and boys as allies in promoting positive masculinity at the community level— encouraging attitudes and behaviors that advance gender equality, prevent violence against women and girls, and foster harmonious relationships within households and communities. This objective emphasized preventive action through dialogue, education, and role-modeling of gender-equitable practices, including the creation of Positive Masculinity Clubs and integration of counseling modules for couples before marriage registration in collaboration with municipal councils.
    Strategic Alignment The project’s objectives aligned with:
    • Cameroon’s National GBV Action Plan under MINPROFF and MINAS;
    • GIZ’s PESoP program goal of improving the economic and social participation of IDPs and host communities; and
    • LUKMEF’s humanitarian and gender equality mandate, ensuring that both crisis-affected and host populations have equal access to protection and empowerment services.
    In summary, the project aimed to reduce GBV prevalence, strengthen institutional response mechanisms, and transform social norms that perpetuate violence, while building sustainable community and institutional capacities for gender justice and inclusion across crisis-affected regions of Cameroon.
    The project achieved remarkable progress in strengthening gender-based violence (GBV) prevention and response across five municipalities in the West Region. Five fully functional GBV One-Stop Shops (OSS) were established, renovated, and equipped to provide integrated psychosocial, medical, legal, and mental health services. A total of 200 survivors accessed these services, receiving 575 interventions, including 172 mental health consultations and 48 subsidized healthcare supports. Furthermore, 124 service providers and hospital staff were trained on 10 GBV core areas, significantly enhancing local capacity and coordination. Through awareness and community engagement, 993 individuals, including men and boys, were sensitized on positive masculinity, and 30 mayors and stakeholders were trained to integrate the approach into marriage counseling. Overall, the initiative fostered survivor-centered care, strengthened referral pathways, and increased community awareness, resulting in tangible improvements in the quality, accessibility, and sustainability of GBV response services.
    The project encountered several challenges that influenced the pace of implementation. Limited awareness about the existence and services of the One-Stop Shops hindered survivor turnout, particularly in remote areas. Delayed disbursement of funds affected timely support for survivors’ medical and transport needs. Some OSS staff were simultaneously tasked with hospital duties, restricting the time available for GBV case management and follow-up. Language barriers also affected comprehension during training sessions, requiring adaptation of materials and bilingual facilitation. Furthermore, some service providers showed reluctance in completing comprehensive case management documentation, citing workload and complexity. Financial and logistical constraints occasionally limited the scale of community outreach and awareness activities. Despite these difficulties, the project team employed mitigation measures such as flexible facilitation, reallocation of resources, and continuous mentorship, ensuring that implementation goals were largely achieved and that operational learning informed adaptive management for future programming.
    Key lessons highlight the power of a survivor-centered, community-owned approach in driving sustainable change. Establishing One-Stop Shops within hospitals proved efficient, fostering confidentiality and trust among survivors while enabling timely access to multiple services under one roof. Integrating men and boys through positive masculinity engagement significantly enhanced preventive outcomes, demonstrating that addressing GBV requires both male and female participation. Continuous capacity building of service providers improved professionalism, collaboration, and adherence to GBV guiding principles. The project also revealed that psychosocial and mental health needs are often more extensive than anticipated, emphasizing the importance of integrating trauma-informed care into all GBV interventions. Additionally, effective coordination with local councils, ministries, and civil society actors enhanced ownership and accountability. Overall, the project confirmed that community inclusion, institutional partnership, and sustained awareness efforts are fundamental to ensuring long-term behavioral and systemic transformation against GBV.
    Future GBV programming should prioritize sustained community sensitization to increase awareness and utilization of One-Stop Shops. Local councils and traditional authorities should institutionalize positive masculinity modules within marriage preparation and civic education programs to promote long-term behavior change. Dedicated funding for transportation and health subsidies is crucial to remove barriers that limit survivors’ access to essential services. Continuous refresher trainings for service providers should be institutionalized to strengthen survivor-centered care and ensure consistency in quality standards. Expanding the One-Stop Shop model to additional municipalities will extend coverage and impact, particularly in the North West and South West regions where GBV risks remain high. Stronger inter-agency coordination and data-sharing mechanisms are also recommended to avoid duplication and reinforce accountability. Above all, sustained donor engagement and multi-sectoral collaboration are vital to scale this successful model, proving that impactful outcomes emerge when resources meet the will.

    Success Stories

    From Silence to Strength – Marie’s Journey to Healing: Marie, a 26-year-old internally displaced woman from the North West Region, had fled to Dschang after her village was burned. In her host community, she suffered repeated physical violence from a man who promised her safety. With no family support and unaware of her rights, Marie endured in silence, until she was referred to the LUKMEF One-Stop Shop (OSS) at the Dschang Regional Hospital. There, she received compassionate counseling, medical treatment, and psychological first aid. Through follow-up sessions with the mental health specialist, Marie began to rebuild her self-worth and confidence. The team helped her access legal advice and a small livelihood referral, enabling her to start a petty trading business. Today, Marie stands as a community advocate for other survivors. Her journey from despair to empowerment embodies how timely intervention and holistic care can transform pain into renewed purpose and dignity.
    The Power of Positive Masculinity – A Father’s Transformation in Bafoussam:   Jean, a 42-year-old father of four, had grown up believing that men should never express emotions or share household responsibilities. He often scolded his wife for participating in community meetings, convinced that “a woman’s place is at home.” When he attended the LUKMEF awareness session on positive masculinity in Bafoussam, his perception began to shift. Through open discussions led by trained facilitators, Jean recognized how rigid gender norms had hurt both his marriage and his children’s well-being. After joining the Positive Masculinity Club, he started sharing domestic tasks and encouraged his daughters to pursue education. Today, Jean volunteers as a local role model, sensitizing men in his neighborhood about respect, equality, and shared responsibility. His transformation shows that engaging men as allies is not just preventive—it’s revolutionary in rebuilding family harmony and reshaping community values around gender equality.
    Restoring Dignity through Mental Health Support – The Story of Amina:   Amina, a 19-year-old survivor of sexual violence, was overwhelmed by trauma and isolation after fleeing conflict in the South West Region. When she arrived in Mbouda, her mental health deteriorated, she barely spoke, cried constantly, and avoided contact with others. A community leader referred her to the LUKMEF GBV One-Stop Shop at Ad Lucem Hospital. There, she received trauma-informed counseling, medical attention, and continuous psychosocial support. With time, Amina learned coping strategies and began participating in peer sessions organized by the OSS. The turning point came when she volunteered to share her story during a community sensitization event, inspiring other survivors to seek help. Today, Amina dreams of becoming a psychosocial counselor herself. Her recovery journey affirms that mental health support is not a luxury but a lifeline restoring the dignity and resilience of those scarred by violence and displacement.
    Empowering Service Providers – Brenda’s Commitment to Change:    Brenda, a nurse at the Foumban Regional Hospital, had encountered many survivors of violence but felt helpless due to limited training on GBV response. When LUKMEF launched its capacity-building program under the PESoP project, she eagerly joined. Through modules on survivor-centered care, psychological first aid, and trauma-informed counseling, Brenda gained critical skills to support survivors ethically and effectively. After the training, she became one of the lead focal points in the hospital’s One-Stop Shop, mentoring colleagues on confidentiality, empathy, and referral systems. Brenda recalls a day she helped a young girl receive life-saving post-exposure treatment within hours of assault—something that would have been delayed before the training. Her story reflects the ripple effect of investing in human capacity: empowered service providers become pillars of protection, ensuring that survivors are met not with judgment, but with care and professional compassion.
    A Safe Haven for Hope – The Kouoptamo Transformation:   Before the project, the Kouoptamo District Hospital had no private space for survivors of gender-based violence. Women often shared waiting areas with other patients, deterring them from seeking help. When LUKMEF, with GIZ support, renovated and equipped a dedicated One-Stop Shop, the atmosphere changed dramatically. The new space offered privacy, comfort, and professional counseling. One day, a teenage survivor walked in trembling, her confidence shattered after abuse by a relative. The staff, recently trained by LUKMEF, handled her case discreetly, providing psychological support, medical care, and safe referral for legal follow-up. Months later, she returned with a smile to thank the team for “saving her life.” The Kouoptamo OSS has since become a beacon of hope for survivors in surrounding villages, proof that when infrastructure meets compassion, healing becomes possible, and every survivor finds a place to begin again.