Since 2021 Helpcode has been implementing a programme for overall protection from and prevention of gender violence, and mitigation of and response to its consequences, in response to the humanitarian crisis in Cabo Delgado in partnership with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). In this context, in the middle of 2022 Helpcode began promoting an initiative for economic empowerment of women, as a measure integrated into the fight against gender violence.  

Very often, the women who access services responding to gender violence – which Helpcode provides in collaboration with local institutions – are also victims of economic abuse, meaning the denial, by the perpetrator, of the victim’s capacity to obtain, use and maintain economic resources, threatening her economic security and self-sufficiency.  

Helpcode’s work in the Palma and Mueda Districts, in partnership with the NGO Grupo de Mulheres de Partilha de Ideias de Sofala (GMPIS), combines the principles and methods of economic empowerment, social empowerment and psycho-social support to contribute to creation of a favourable space for women survivors of violence to improve their survival strategies and make them more sustainable, while offering an integrated multidimensional approach to gender violence.  

These women bring with them all the traumas involved in displacement and multidimensional violence, which can be worked through with the creation of “safety nets” for women, an essential part of a broader process of empowerment promoting inclusion and social and economic independence. 

In actual fact, the economic empowerment initiative involves, following selection of the women to be involved, a participatory study of the local market (in order to understand which economic activities to focus on) and analysis of the skills and expectations of the selected women; theoretical education in literacy, basic mathematics and management of a micro-enterprise; practical training in various types of economic activities (such as making and selling food, making mats and carpets, making and selling soap, drying and selling fish, retailing, tailoring); and, finally, providing an individual kit of tools and materials appropriate to the type of business each woman intends to start (such as a grater, a bucket, a wheelbarrow for selling, fabrics, food products for cooking, etc.).  

The Helpcode team oversees every one of the women involved in the project individually from the start of her business to achievement of an understanding of the changes it produces in the household’s self-sufficiency and the women’s ability to play an active role in the decision-making process, in order to adapt the business plan as necessary and, finally, respond to any risks in terms of protection or safety that may result from the economic enterprise. 

Guaranteeing the rights of women and girls in all areas of life has always been among our priorities, the only way to make progress in the direction of a prosperous, fair society for future generations. On March 8th, International Women’s Day, we wish to quote a number of active participants in the programme.  

Download the report on GBV and economic empowerment here

 “My family is thankful that I have learned to read and write, and this helped me to enrol my children in school. Then I learned to count, and with my little shop, I bought books, pens and uniforms for them.”  

Azane, project beneficiary 

“I know what early marriage and rape are, I know about their consequences. The women and girls at the centre know they can talk to me if something is happening, and I can take them to the Helpcode team for support. In the shelters we talk about and discuss gender violence, but together we can also have fun, and forget about everything that goes on in the outside world for a while.” 

 Isabela, attivista

“I volunteer here because I’m helping other women who live here. We sit in community meetings with leaders, and we can give a voice to the women who cannot come, too.” 

Bernadette, member of the women’s committee