Women and Girls Friendly Spaces Transform the Lives of Conflict-Affected Women and Girls

UN Women, in partnership with the Afar Community Initiative Sustainable Development Association (ACISDA) and local government stakeholders, established a culturally appropriate Women and Girls Friendly Space (WGFS) at Chifra Hospital, Afar Region to strengthen the prevention of and response to violence against women and girls, including conflict-related sexual violence. Designed to reflect traditional Afar homes, the facility provides a safe, confidential, and survivor-centered environment where women and girls can access psychosocial support, protection services, peer networks, and information on their rights.

The WGFS offers individual and group counseling, peer support, awareness-raising sessions, and referral services, helping increase resilience, awareness, and help-seeking behavior among conflict-affected women and girls. To support economic empowerment, the center also facilitates income-generating activities such as traditional jewelry making, handicrafts, and milk collection materials.

Over the past 10 months, more than 660 women and girls have accessed counseling, skills development opportunities, and essential support services. The project further strengthened women's economic resilience through Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs), enabling women to save regularly, access small loans, and rebuild their livelihoods.

In addition, the initiative strengthened local coordination mechanisms, enhanced the capacity of essential service providers, equipped One-Stop Centers with critical medical supplies, and supported media professionals and traditional leaders to implemented interventions on violence against women and girls (VAWG) prevention, advocacy, and positive social norm change. Supported by the Gates Foundation, the project contributes to improved survivor-centered services, stronger referral systems, enhanced wellbeing and resilience of conflict-affected women and girls, and strengthened GBV evidence generation to inform policy and programming.