Programme Description

In Mali, the latest Demographic and Health Survey notes that 96 percent of all women and girls have survived sexual and gender-based violence and harmful practices; in 93 percent of the cases, the perpetrator was the current husband or an intimate partner. The survey also shows that a large share of the victims are girls and young women. Thirty-eight percent of all women have experienced physical violence by the age of 15.

The Spotlight Program in Mali aims to contribute to the elimination of sexual and gender-based violence, harmful practices and barriers to access sexual and reproductive health rights. It seeks to combat violence by implementing innovative intervention mechanisms through six different outcome areas.

Number of beneficiaries: 2,827,925 (direct) | 11,311,704 (indirect)

Recipient UN Organizations: UNFPA, UN WOMEN, UNDP, UNICEF and UNHCR.

Spotlight Country Programme Focal Point at the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office: Marianne Mara; Email: marianne.mara.foulah@one.un.org

Investments

The total investment contribution of EU for Phase I (2019 – 2020) amounts to USD 18,000,000. The total investment is divided according to the following;

•  Policies and legislation (outcome 1): The programme will ensure that legislation on gender-based violence, female genital mutilation and child marriage are drafted and adopted. This includes adoption of the Child Protection Code, and revision of the Agricultural Orientation Act, which currently discriminates against women.
•  Institutions (outcome 2): Spotlight will support the government’s efforts to create a National Programme to combat gender-based violence and promote gender-responsive budgeting to ensure better results in the implementation of such programmes.
•  Prevention and social norms (outcome 3): Spotlight will challenge power relations between men and women and the gender norms that govern behaviors in households, communities, schools, through key interventions with social institutions (e.g. family, school, community, media, authorities, etc.). Spotlight will actively involve religious leaders, youth and boys through communication, advocacy and intergenerational dialogue. Spotlight will also implement a gender-sensitive pedagogy framework in schools.
•  Services (outcome 4): Spotlight will strengthen the capacity of multi-sector actors, to provide health care, psychosocial support, security and legal support. Spotlight will promote “one-stop-centers" and mobile clinics to provide integrated services that meet the multiple needs of survivors in urban and rural areas. The programme will also establish a support fund for survivors to support their economic and social re-integration and long-time recovery.
•  Data (outcome 5): Spotlight will assess the local capacities and institutionalize the collection and analysis of data on sexual and gender-based violence. Spotlight will develop digital tools and an interconnected system that will generate data from multiple relevant sectors and actors.
•  Women’s Movement and Civil Society (outcome 6): Spotlight will strengthen the technical and organizational capacities of women's rights groups and civil society organizations at both local and national levels. Spotlight will support radio hosts, bloggers, and other social activists to advocate in their communities about violence against women and girls.
• Social Monitoring Platform: Spotlight will create a digital social platform that will facilitate immediate and appropriate responses to reported cases of violence.