Two British Council managed programmes have received recognition at the British Expertise Awards in London this April.
The Awards celebrate a range of international projects that demonstrate innovative and adaptive approaches and work with local partners in challenging contexts to deliver impact and sustainable results.
The first programme to receive recognition was the Justice for All (J4A) programme. J4A, in collaboration with local civil society organisations, established the first Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) in Nigeria. The SARCs were established to bridge the gap between the police, medical and social work response to sexual violence.
The one-stop centres provide immediate and free emergency medical treatment, forensic medical examination by specially trained doctors and nurses, and crisis support by specially trained counsellors. Beneficiaries also receive assistance for navigating the legal and judicial system. The project translates into real impact on the lives of ordinary Nigerians, many of whom are marginalised and would have otherwise been ignored. The key to its success is a new system of trust and collaboration across a number of sectors, agencies and communities that jointly address a deep rooted problem in Nigeria.
The second programme to be commended was Addressing Violence Against Women and GirlsThrough Football in Kenya. In partnership with the Premier League and together with UK and Kenyan partners, this innovative programme uses football to address some of the behaviours and attitudes that give rise to high levels of violence against women and girls in Western Kenya. The programme seeks to contribute towards the reduction of violence against women and girls by demonstrating that football is transformative in enabling women and girls to live free from violence and enhancing girls’ ability to claim their rights.
The programmes were also shortlisted for the Bond International Development Awards along with the Pyoe Pin programme, ‘Strengthening the Rule of Law in Myanmar', making it to the final selection.
