Disclaimer:
Please be aware that the content herein has not been peer reviewed. It consists of personal reflections, insights, and learnings of the contributor(s). It may not be exhaustive, nor does it aim to be authoritative knowledge.
Title
Please provide a name for your action learning plan.
Boosting women's empowerement through digital innovation
Challenge statement
Challenge type: If you are working on multiple challenges, please indicate if this is your "big bet" or "exploratory" challenge.
Please note: we ask you to only submit a maximum of 3 challenges - 1x Big Bet, 2x Exploratory. Each challenge must be submitted individually.
EXPLORATORY
Challenge statement: What is your challenge? (Please answer in specific terms: "Our challenge is that...”.)
In Mauritania, Gender-Based Violence (GBV) is difficult to measure because of social taboos that prevent the victims to publicly denounce that phenomenon. Victims of gender-based violence (GBV), including sexual violence, face enormous difficulties in receiving minimal care. The observed obstacles are the lack of knowledge of the procedures approved by the Mauritanian government, as well as the high cost to families in terms of time and financial means. Our main challenge is (1) the existing gap in the official data released by the government and that reported by the CSO working in the field, (2) there is no legal framework to protect women from gender based violence in the Country, and (3) the lack of a real coordination between different sectors to better manage this phenomenon.
Background: What is the history of your challenge? What is causing or driving it? Who is involved? How does the current situation look like? What undesired effects does it produce?
GBV is not new to the National context and the most prevailing type of it are Female Genital Mutulations (FGM), early dropping out of school, forced child marriage among others. This is mostly caused by the patriarchal system prevailing in the country, the socio-cultural norms, poverty and economic inequality. Added to this the fact that there is a lack of legal framework to protect women against GBV to date. This has been exacerbated by the fact that most women fail to denounce that they are victims of violence. Females and vulnerable groups in general are the the ones who are directly affected by issue as well as the state which has the role of protecting the victims from this violence. There exist many effects related to GBV among which one can cite the social stigmatisation and isolation, the psychological traumas, physical damage and economic consequences. GBV has a significant economic consequences for survivors and their families including lost income, medical expenses, and post-trauma healthcare treatment cost.
Quantitative evidence: What (official) data sources do you have on this challenge that better exemplifies the importance and urgency of this frontier challenge? You can add text, a link, or a picture.
Some data can be found by acceding to the link:
https://evaw-global-database.unwomen.org/en/countries/africa/mauritania
Qualitative evidence: What weak signals have you recently spotted that characterizes its urgency? Please provide qualitative information that better exemplifies the importance and urgency of this frontier challenge. You can add text, a link, or a picture.
One of the weak signal observed is the recent abstention from adopting the legal framework (law) on GBV in Mauritania by the parliament twice. Also, despite the lack of data, we are observing that there is an increase in the number of violent cases. Moreover, there is no well coordinated actions involving security forces, medical aid and judicial intervnetion related to VBG in the country.
https://www.unicef.org/media/128206/file/FGM-Mauritania-2021.pdf
Value proposition: What added value or unique value proposition is your Accelerator Lab bringing to solving this challenge? Why is it your Lab that needs to work on this challenge and not other actors within UNDP, other stakeholders in the country respectively? Why is it worth investing resources to this challenge?
The theme for International Women's Day 2023 is ‘DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality’. The Lab would like to align its work with this campaigns. To do so, the Lab aims to seize this opportunity to put forward its methods, knowledge and experience in the field of innovation and digital transformation to promote gender equality and women's empowerment. The Lab envisages working collaboratively with local organisations and community members to build strong relationships to be able to create more impactful solutions, while paying particular attention to the cultural sensitivity. In fact, as the UNDP Unit responsible of innovation and well informed on digital solutions, the Lab is well positioned to take his challenge and work on.
Short “tweet” summary: We would like to tweet what you are working on, can you summarize your challenge in a maximum of 280 characters?
In the age of the 4th revolution, #Digitalisation and #Innovation are key enablers if not the only existing ones. The #AcceleratorLab in Mauritania aims to break the cycle of violence and create a saffer, more equitable society for all by focusing on digital facilities
Partners
Who are your top 5 partners for this challenge? Please submit from MOST to LEAST important and state Name, Sector and a brief description of the (intended) collaboration.
Please state the name of the Parter:
The main national partner is The Ministry in charge of social action and family.
What sector does our partner belong to?
Government (&related)
Please provide a brief description of the collaboration.
The collaboration is expected to be with the Direction in charge of Gender Based Violence within the ministry. The Lab aims to conduct sensemaking sessions as well as collective intelligence to generate data on GBV in Mauritania. The Lab also intends to raise the awareness during the 16 days of activism to shed light on how innovation and digital transformation can contribute in protecting women and girls from GBV.
Is this a new and unusual partner for UNDP?
No
Who are your top 5 partners for this challenge? Please submit from MOST to LEAST important and state Name, Sector and a brief description of the (intended) collaboration.
Please state the name of the Parter:
The Observatoy of gender equality.
What sector does our partner belong to?
Academia
Please provide a brief description of the collaboration.
This Unit has been created in 2020 witihin the University to handle all issues related to gender equality and women's empowerment. The Lab is expecting a collaboration with this unit in terms of access to data and policy-related publications. Besides, the Lab will reach out to this observatory to organise colloquiums and conferences around gender equality & women's empowerment subject.
Is this a new and unusual partner for UNDP?
Yes
Who are your top 5 partners for this challenge? Please submit from MOST to LEAST important and state Name, Sector and a brief description of the (intended) collaboration.
Please state the name of the Parter:
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
What sector does our partner belong to?
United Nations
Please provide a brief description of the collaboration.
As the UN Agency that directly deals with the issue of GBV in Mauritania, The Lab will collaborate with UNFPA to generate data as well as documenting case studies of GBV survivors. The Lab will also collaborate with this agency especially co-organising campaigns related to GBV.
Is this a new and unusual partner for UNDP?
No
Who are your top 5 partners for this challenge? Please submit from MOST to LEAST important and state Name, Sector and a brief description of the (intended) collaboration.
Please state the name of the Parter:
El Wafa Center
What sector does our partner belong to?
Civil Society
Please provide a brief description of the collaboration.
El Wafa center is a Non-Profite Organisation, a center providing assistance to the victims of rape and sexual assault in Mauritania. This center has numerous real case studies of women who survived violence and were provided support thanks to the different available services. The Lab will collaborate with this center to well document real case studies and use them in the campaigns to be organised.
Is this a new and unusual partner for UNDP?
Yes
Learning questions
Learning question: What is your learning question for this challenge? What do you need to know or understand to work on your challenge statement?
The learning questions are as follows:
- What are the gaps in terms of evidence and disponible data do exist in the country in relation to GBV?
- What innovation aproaches are being used in Mauritania to prevent GBV ?
- How can community based approaches be incorporated into GBV prevention efforts in Mauritania?
To what stage(s) in the learning cycle does your learning question relate?
Sense, Explore
Usage of methods: Relating to your choice above, how will you use your methods & tools for this learning question? What value do these add in answering your learning question?
This methods will be used through organised workshops where participants will be given time and orientations to generate ideas that can help in facing GBV in Mauritania.
Existing data gaps: Relating to your choice above, what existing gaps in data or information do these new sources of data addressing? What value do these add in answering your learning question?
The above selected methods are expected to fill the gaps in the data on GBV as following:
- The Under reporting of GBV incidents;
- The limited undrestand of GBV prevelance;
- The Lack of GBV prevention strategies;
- Insufficient coordination between different actors on GBV prevention
Closing
Early leads to grow: Think about the possible grow phase for this challenge - who might benefit from your work on this challenge or who might be the champions in your country that you should inform or collaborate with early on to help you grow this challenge?
Gender based violence GBV is a global phonomenon that affects individuals of all genders and ages. it has a sever physical and emotional consequences that can last a lifetime. The Lab projects in preventing and adressing this issue through a comprehensive approach that includes innovative strategies, digital and data driven solutions, and community engagement. By working together with the involved partners, we can contribute in diminishing the GBV impact where everyone can leave in diginty and peace.
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3Good health and well-being
5Gender equality
10Reduced innequalities
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