The goals

The intervention proposed here aims to promote an inclusive society capable of providing vocational training and employment opportunities for all, fostering participatory and sustainable economic growth. Thus, the objective is to Promote inclusive labor policies and practices, improve the supply of job skills for youth, women, and people with disabilities, and facilitate access to the labor market through entrepreneurship support in the regions of abu, Bafatá, Oio, Cacheu, and the Autonomous Sector of Bissau.

The activities

This project proposal, promoted by Associazione Mani Tese in partnership with Associazione Italiana Amici di Raoul Follereau (AIFO), Amigos da Criança (AMIC), and the Federation of Associations for the Defense and Promotion of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Guinea-Bissau (FADPD-GB), has an expected duration of 30 months.

OUTCOME 1 – OSC IN THE 5 REGIONS WILL STRENGTHEN THEIR ORGANIZATIONAL AND TECHNICAL SKILLS, THEIR ABILITY TO DETECT AND MANAGE VULNERABLE SITUATIONS, AND BRING THEM TO THE ATTENTION OF INSTITUTIONS AT VARIOUS LEVELS

A1.1 Basic Study

The project will begin by establishing a baseline of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in the five regions of intervention (SAB, Gabu, Bafatá, Oio, and Cacheu) that deal with the rights of women and youth in vulnerable situations. The objective of this activity is to identify the level of structuring of CSOs and then select a total of twenty organizations to be beneficiaries of the project. The selection criteria will include (i) thematic area of intervention, (ii) target beneficiaries of the CSO, (iii) region of intervention, (iv) relevance of the CSO to the community, and (v) number of women/youth/people with disabilities involved in the management of the CSO. First, a questionnaire will be submitted to the pre-selected organizations, defining their geolocation, sociodemographic characteristics, organizational chart, internal management, intervention, and methods of external communication with target groups, population, and institutions. Second, through a “djumbai” (a meeting) with members of the organization, a SWOT analysis will be conducted to complete the picture of needs and potential. The information gathered will be systematized into a baseline document for each selected organization, from which a customized dossier will be compiled to record CSOs’ progress according to the project indicators. The definition of the baseline will also be used to define the training package planned for the first outcome.

A1.2 Strengthening the organizational and technical capacity of CSOs

CSOs identified during the baseline study conducted at the beginning of the project will participate in a training process aimed at strengthening organizational and technical capacity in a holistic and all-inclusive manner. The training will be conducted by a specialized trainer and will be held in the five intervention regions. There will be two sessions for a total of 16 days. For each sub-module, the beneficiary CSOs will indicate the most suitable person to participate, based on the functions performed in the organization. The general training will last ten days, followed by a nine-month mentoring period with a regional field trainer and a final six-day refresher session. Customized technical assistance throughout the project will provide practical guidance and assistance in implementing needed improvements. The topics of the training modules will cover: Governance, Financial and Administrative Management, Fundraising, Communication and Information Technology, and Monitoring and Evaluation. The latter developed to track progress made by CSOs, the results of which will be recorded in a customized dossier.

A1.3 Psychosocial capacity building of CSOs

Mani Tese will organize a training course aimed at strengthening the psychosocial capacities of the identified CSOs, so that they possess those skills adequate to rebalance the social-relational well-being and psyche of the people they work with, so that they can progressively reintegrate into their social-family context. with the aim of sharing the reception tools and experiences systematized in the previous project (registration forms, files and individual reintegration plans). The courses will be aimed at a total of 25 people. The course will be led by a specialized trainer and will be held in the five intervention regions in two sessions of five days each. During the first session, members of the participating CSOs will be involved in a knowledge co-creation exercise related to the development of a common, cross-cutting psychosocial approach to the vulnerabilities addressed by the project. In this regard, participants will be encouraged to explore the dimensions and interconnections among these vulnerabilities by analyzing how the phenomena of violence, exploitation, abuse, and discrimination are intertwined among youth and women, including people with disabilities and children. After the first session, CSOs will be invited to develop an intersectionality-based psychosocial protocol specific to their organization. CSOs will have six months to prepare it, accompanied by a regional mentor. Afterwards, a second update session will be held, during which CSOs will present their work and have the opportunity to review the theoretical basis of the topic and correct any errors.

A1.4 Strengthening the advocacy capacities of CSOs.

The training module provided in this activity aims to strengthen advocacy capacities. The basic idea of this training module is that it is possible to intervene in this area by strengthening the organizational capacities of CSOs and providing them with a more structured and organized methodology that is usually absent in their knowledge framework of intervention methods. The course will be led by a specialized trainer and will be held in the five intervention regions. There will be two sessions of three days each: during the first one, participants will familiarize themselves with the theoretical framework of the topic. They will also be asked from the first days to think of a topic on which to create an advocacy action to be presented by the end of the week. After the first session, CSOs will be invited to develop the proposed idea, putting the methodology learned into practice. In this process, they will be accompanied by a regional mentor in the field. CSOs will have six months to organize their actions. Afterwards, a second update session will be held, during which the organizations will present their work and have the opportunity to review the theoretical foundations of the theme and correct any errors. Group work among different CSOs with common goals will be encouraged, as well as the development of real advocacy actions that, rather than being mere exercises, can be implemented beyond the course.

A1.5 Strengthening the psychosocial capacity of institutions

In addition to strengthening CSOs, the project will also transversally address improving the psychosocial capacities of institutions so as to multiply their impact in the target regions. In this context, strengthening the psychosocial capacities of institutions will have three pillars:

The sensitive attitude to be adopted toward a vulnerable person. Officers will be encouraged to use cautious, non-offensive and non-discriminatory language and an attitude of understanding and solidarity.
Analysis of the policy and legislative framework. Laws and public policies regarding phenomena of violence, exploitation, abuse, and discrimination that cross-cuttingly affect women, youth, and people with disabilities will be presented.
Analysis and improvement of institution’s codes of conduct: Representatives of institutions will be asked to examine existing codes of conduct in their institutions, based on documents such as bylaws, codes of ethics or internal policies.
The course will be conducted by a specialized trainer and held in each of the five intervention regions, with two sessions interspersed to monitor the application of the skills learned. It will be aimed at representatives from the police, social services, hospitals and health centers, judicial institutions, schools, educational centers, religious representatives and local government. The first training session will last six days (two days for each training pillar). Thereafter, a local mentor will meet fortnightly for six months with officials participating in the course to clarify doubts and improve the day-to-day application of the skills acquired. After six months, a second two-day refresher session will be held to review theoretical concepts based on practical experience. On this occasion, participants will present difficulties encountered, solutions adopted and those yet to be found, which will be discussed with other participants.

OUTCOME 2 – OSC OF THE 5 REGIONS WILL HAVE IMPROVED DIALOGUE WITH PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS FOR JOINT DEVELOPMENT OF POLICY PLANS AND ACTIONS FOR VULNERABLE AND MARGINALIZED GROUPS, WITH A SPECIAL FOCUS ON YOUTH AND WOMEN (R2)

A2.1 Strengthening and/or establishment of regional committees.

Strengthening CSOs is accompanied by improving cooperation with institutions. This activity aims to create an operational line of cooperation between CSOs and institutions at the regional level involved in combating violence, exploitation, abuse, and discrimination against women and youth, including people with disabilities and children. First, CSOs (including those strengthened through the first outcome activities) and key institutional actors (access to justice centers, health centers, judicial and public security police, specific local government departments, etc.) will be identified and initial contacts established. During the first presentation meeting, each participant will explain his or her role, the institution to which he or she belongs, and the service provided on the phenomena of violence, exploitation, abuse, and discrimination against women and youth, including the disabled and minors. From this information, a map of possible collaborations between CSOs and institutions will be created. During the “djumbai,” CSOs and institutions will have the opportunity to discuss critical case management, share information and data, and tell how the parties (CSO-OSC and CSO-institutions) will work together to find solutions to cooperation challenges.

A.2.2 Strengthening existing dialogue tables.

The activity aims to continue and strengthen two tables for dialogue and consultation between CSOs and institutions at the national level on the issues of violence against women and the rights of people with disabilities, respectively. Through this project activity, it is intended to strengthen the existence of the table and its appropriation by all member CSOs and institutions by continuing to provide opportunities for discussion, consultation, denunciation, and organization of advocacy actions for the defense of women’s rights. In particular, emphasis will be given to some recommendations that often return to the center of the debate: 1) the need to take measures against illicit cover-ups by health centers and police forces in the treatment of victims of gender-based violence; 2) the allocation of dedicated funds to human rights issues.

On these issues, participants will be invited during 6 meetings, co-managed by Mani Tese and AMIC, to train, exchange information, and subsequently create two advocacy campaigns (one for each of the issues mentioned above) during 6 more meetings. Activity 2.2 aims to resume and deepen the process started in collaboration with STARS, through the active participation of FADPD-GB, MINSAP, and WHO, to create a National Rehabilitation Plan that addresses the essential rehabilitation needs of people, both disabled and not, in Guinea-Bissau.

A2.3 Promotion of international networks

This activity aims to bring the voice of the rights of vulnerable people in Guinea-Bissau to the level of West Africa, with which the country shares social challenges. it is intended to make Guinea-Bissau the focus of one of the steering committee meetings for the year 2025, with the goal of devoting part of the theme to forced and early marriage in West Africa, resonating the phenomenon and calling for change at the sub-regional level. The activity will work in this context to strengthen both AMIC and FADPD-GB, already part of sub-regional networks in which they represent Guinea Bissau.

A.2.4 Awareness Actions

Awareness-raising actions aim to create collective awareness, reducing stigma and improving public perception on these issues. They include media information campaigns that will address the issues of gender-based violence, early and forced marriage, female genital mutilation, and the rights of young people and people with disabilities; community and theater events performed by local theater groups that will stage everyday life situations regarding domestic violence, early marriage, and the rights of people with disabilities; awareness campaigns in schools where seminars and workshops will be organized in secondary schools and universities in the five target regions; and public awareness days coordinated with key local and national stakeholders in collaboration with CSOs and local institutions.

A.2.5 Establishment of community alert mechanisms.

Another key pillar of the project is the creation or strengthening of community alert mechanisms (SACs – Community Alert System) in the five intervention regions. The path to establishing the SACs goes through the establishment of community monitoring teams made up of CSO members and local volunteers, who will be trained on identifying, recording and reporting cases of violence and discrimination. The SACs will work closely with local authorities and will be supported by community outreach on their operation

A.2.6 Sustainability of actions

To ensure the operation of the activities above, mechanisms will be created that provide for constant involvement of local and national authorities in order to capitalize in public and institutional practices and policies. In addition, CSOs will be supported in strengthening their organizational and financial capacities so as to ensure their future operational continuity. Finally, monitoring and evaluation systems will be established to be able to make any corrections during implementation and improve the sustainability of the initiative.

RESULT 3 – OSC FROM THE 5 REGIONS BECAME PROMOTERS OF ACTIVE CITIZENSHIP INITIATIVES IN THE FIELDS OF PREVENTION, PROTECTION AND REHABILITATION OF YOUTH AND WOMEN.

A3.1 Strengthening the technical skills of young people and women for access to employment

This activity aims to improve beneficiaries’ vocational skills through technical and vocational training that meets the needs of the local labor market. The project will begin by identifying the technical skills required by the local economies in the five target regions. A preliminary analysis will be conducted together with CSOs, local institutions, and private sector representatives to identify the sectors in which there is the greatest demand for labor and what technical skills are needed; following this analysis, the project will create training tracks in the following areas: agriculture and processing of agricultural products, handicrafts and local production, and information and communication technologies. The CSOs involved in the project will work with existing vocational training centers in the target regions to organize specific courses that meet the identified needs. Local trainers will be selected and trained to deliver the training effectively, with a focus on inclusion of people with disabilities and ongoing mentoring.

A3.2 Microenterprise creation and entrepreneurship support

This activity aims to create an enabling environment for the inclusion of people with disabilities in the world of work while promoting their economic autonomy. In collaboration with the Federation of Associations for the Defense and Promotion of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Guinea-Bissau (FADPD-GB), a mapping of persons with disabilities in the target regions will be conducted. Once the mapping is completed, identified persons with disabilities will be involved in targeted technical and vocational training courses. The training courses will be designed to provide skills that are directly expendable in the labor market, on the topics previously considered. For those who wish to start their own businesses, an entrepreneurship support program will be offered; transversally, employer outreach work coordinated with the Ministry of Labor and other competent authorities will be carried out to ensure, on the one hand, greater inclusiveness and more employment opportunities for people with disabilities, and on the other hand, to ensure that public policies are increasingly attentive to this type of issue.

A3.3 Promoting the employment inclusion of people with disabilities

There are two components in this action: on the one hand, the 4 microenterprises will receive additional technical support for their activities; on the other hand, a more innovative element will be proposed: strengthening the active role of women entrepreneurs as antennas that promote the socioeconomic integration of other women. For this, entrepreneurs will receive training from Mani Tese social workers on how to become proactive agents in combating gender-based violence.

A3.4 Development of public-private partnerships for work inclusion

The project aims to strengthen collaboration between the public sector, private sector and CSOs, creating a partnership network that promotes employment and social inclusion. Market analysis and consultations will be conducted with local businesses, public authorities and CSOs to identify opportunities for public-private partnerships. This will be followed by the development of Memoranda of Understanding to formalize a joint commitment to promoting the employment inclusion of vulnerable groups and the creation of internship and apprenticeship programs in local companies so as to provide practical experience and even a chance for subsequent employment. Networking events will be held between CSOs, businesses and public institutions to facilitate the exchange of experiences and best practices for consideration.

A3.5 Active citizenship initiatives

The project aims to stimulate collective awareness about citizens’ rights and responsibilities, promoting civic engagement as a means of improving the living conditions of the most vulnerable groups. Active citizenship groups will be established in the five target regions consisting of young people, women and people with disabilities with the task of stimulating civic participation and public dialogue. Members of the active citizenship groups will be trained on citizen rights and duties, adovcacy and political participation, and organizing awareness campaigns. They will also organize community events in the forms of open public debates and cultural events such as theater performances, concerts and art exhibitions to ensure awareness of socially relevant issues. Active citizenship groups also will be assisted in participating in decision-making processes and in particular will have the opportunity to initiate advocacy initiatives at the regional level through collaboration with local institutions and CSOs.

A3.6 Income-generating activities for vulnerable groups

This activity aims to provide direct economic support to youth, women and people with disabilities through the development of income-generating activities. Project beneficiaries will receive training and technical assistance to start income-generating activities. The trainings will focus on the following areas: small business management, production and processing techniques, and market access. The project, therefore, will facilitate access to financing for beneficiaries by assisting them in applying for financing at subsidized rates.