Major achievements include improved shelter services, stronger advocacy and coordination, digitalized GBV case management, national media outreach, evidence generation, and expanded opportunities for survivors

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia — 2026

The Ethiopian Network of Women Shelters (ENWS) has made significant progress in strengthening Ethiopia’s gender-based violence (GBV) prevention and response system through survivor-centered service improvement, organizational capacity building, feminist advocacy, digital innovation, evidence generation, public awareness, and strategic partnerships.

Through its initiatives, ENWS has strengthened the capacity of shelters and service providers, expanded advocacy and policy engagement, introduced digital tools for GBV case management, increased public awareness through national media, strengthened coordination among GBV actors, and created opportunities for survivors to access livelihoods and economic empowerment.

These achievements have further strengthened ENWS as a national coalition working to improve the availability, accessibility, and quality of services for women and girls affected by violence.

Strengthening Project Management and Financial Standards

ENWS invested in strengthening the organizational systems of its member organizations through training on project management and standard financial practices.

The training equipped participants with practical knowledge in project planning, implementation, monitoring, reporting, financial tracking, accountability, and transparency.

It strengthened members’ ability to manage projects more effectively, improve implementation quality, and apply standard financial and management practices across the network.

Empowering Shelters Through Capacity Building

Recognizing the critical role of shelters in providing immediate protection and support to survivors, ENWS conducted targeted Shelter Empowerment and Capacity Building initiatives.

The initiative supported member shelters with training on survivor-centered care and shelter management, contributing to improved service quality, strengthened staff capacity, and greater consistency in survivor-centered support across participating shelters.

Building Stronger Advocacy and Policy Engagement

ENWS strengthened the advocacy capacity of its network through an Advocacy for NGO Leaders Workshop focused on evidence-based advocacy, stakeholder mapping, strategic messaging, coalition building, and innovative advocacy tools.

Participants developed practical advocacy action plans to strengthen engagement with policymakers and other influential stakeholders.

ENWS also conducted advocacy training that strengthened staff and members’ understanding of advocacy concepts, planning, messaging, coalition building, and evidence-based approaches to influencing GBV policy and practice.

Engaging Men and Communities to Prevent GBV

ENWS strengthened its prevention work by promoting male engagement and shared responsibility in preventing gender-based violence.

Through its 16 Days of Activism activities, ENWS brought together members, partners, government representatives, and other stakeholders to promote male allyship, community accountability, and action to prevent violence against women and girls.

The campaign also focused on digital violence against women and girls, using public awareness activities and communication materials to highlight emerging forms of violence facilitated through digital platforms.

Digitalizing GBV Case Management

One of ENWS’s major achievements has been the development and operationalization of a digital GBV case management system.

Using KoboToolbox, ENWS digitalized case management across its member organizations and strengthened standardized case documentation, tracking, reporting, referrals, and follow-up.

Staff were trained in the use of the system, which operates through a secure access mechanism to protect sensitive survivor information. The digital system provides ENWS with a stronger foundation for data-driven decision-making while strengthening confidentiality and coordination in survivor-centered case management.

Expanding Digital Visibility and Public Access to Information

ENWS also strengthened its organizational visibility and communication through the development of a modern and fully operational website and an expanded social media presence.

The initiative improved the way ENWS communicates its work, member organizations, GBV services, advocacy activities, and resources to the public. The digital platform was developed to support accessibility, ease of navigation, security, information sharing, and organizational visibility.

Taking GBV Advocacy to National Television

ENWS expanded public awareness and advocacy through the national media campaign “In Her Shoes.”

Implemented in collaboration with Hagere TV, the campaign produced a mini-documentary series highlighting ENWS’s work, survivor experiences, and the realities of gender-based violence in Ethiopia.

The campaign used storytelling and public engagement to promote awareness, empathy, gender equality, and understanding of GBV prevention and response.

The broader media advocacy effort also aimed to inform communities about GBV prevention, survivor support, reporting channels, and the importance of comprehensive and multi-sectoral services.

Strengthening Grant Writing and Resource Mobilization

To help sustain GBV services and strengthen members’ organizational resilience, ENWS conducted Grant Proposal Writing Training for network members.

The training strengthened participants’ skills in concept note development, logical frameworks, budgeting, donor analysis, results-based planning, fundraising calendars, and gender-responsive budgeting.

The initiative enhanced members’ ability to identify funding opportunities, prepare competitive proposals, and mobilize resources to sustain and expand GBV response services.

Strengthening Coordination Among GBV Service Providers

ENWS worked to improve coordination among one-stop centers, shelters, legal service providers, health professionals, psychosocial service providers, and government institutions.

Capacity-building activities brought together professionals from medical, psychosocial, legal, justice, and coordination structures to strengthen collaboration and improve referral pathways.

These efforts contributed to more coordinated and holistic survivor support and reinforced the importance of effective multi-sectoral case management.

ENWS also reported that its training and advocacy efforts contributed to strengthening one-stop centers and expanding access to integrated GBV services.

Building Private-Sector Partnerships for Survivor Economic Empowerment

ENWS expanded its work with the private sector to create opportunities for survivor rehabilitation, reintegration, and economic empowerment.

Through engagement with private-sector leaders, ENWS promoted corporate social responsibility initiatives supporting survivors to access employment, skills training, and livelihood opportunities.

Partnerships with MT Design and Bellevue Hotel created opportunities for skills development and employment for survivors, demonstrating the value of private-sector engagement in supporting long-term recovery and economic independence.

ENWS also expanded its engagement with the Addis Ababa and Ethiopian Chambers of Commerce to strengthen private-sector partnerships and resource mobilization.

Generating Evidence on GBV in Conflict-Affected Areas

ENWS conducted a Rapid Assessment on GBV in Conflict-Affected Areas to generate updated evidence to inform advocacy, programming, and policy engagement.

The assessment covered Amhara, Oromia, Tigray, and Benishangul-Gumuz regions and used KoboToolbox for digital data collection and monitoring.

The assessment generated evidence on the magnitude and patterns of GBV and highlighted gaps in existing responses, creating an important foundation for evidence-based advocacy and future interventions.

Supporting the Well-Being of Frontline Responders

ENWS also recognized that effective survivor-centered services require healthy, resilient, and supported frontline workers.

The organization conducted burnout prevention and psychosocial well-being training for shelter staff, counselors, case management officers, and frontline responders to strengthen staff resilience and mental health support capacities.

Convening National Dialogue on GBV in Conflict-Affected Settings

ENWS organized a National Dialogue Workshop on GBV in conflict-affected settings, bringing together key stakeholders to promote knowledge sharing, coordination, and collective action.

The dialogue created space for stakeholders to reflect on challenges, share evidence and experiences, and identify priorities for strengthening GBV prevention and response in conflict-affected communities.

Learning from Thailand: Strengthening Survivor-Centered GBV Services

Continuing its commitment to learning and improving service delivery, ENWS organized and participated in an exchange visit to Bangkok, Thailand, in July 2026, bringing together ENWS representatives and Thai counterparts to exchange experiences on integrated, survivor-centered, and gender-responsive approaches to GBV prevention and response.

The exchange provided an opportunity to explore Thailand’s approaches to integrated, survivor-centered, and gender-responsive GBV prevention and response. Participants engaged with government institutions, health facilities, legal authorities, and civil society organizations involved in coordinated GBV services.

Learning from the National Social Help Center:- Hotline 1300

The delegation visited Thailand’s National Social Help Center (Hotline 1300) to learn about its centralized referral and emergency response mechanism.

The center operates around the clock and coordinates with hospitals, police, shelters, social workers, and legal institutions. ENWS representatives learned about case intake, registration, referrals, confidentiality, data management, emergency response, and follow-up systems.

Learning from the One-Stop Crisis Center at Pathum Thani Hospital

At Pathum Thani Hospital’s One-Stop Crisis Center, the delegation learned about an integrated model bringing together emergency medical care, psychosocial support, forensic examination, legal assistance, social welfare, shelter referrals, case management, and follow-up services.

The visit demonstrated how professionals from different sectors can work together while maintaining survivor confidentiality and dignity.

Exchange on Shelter Services and Women’s Empowerment

The delegation also engaged with the Women and Men Progressive Movement Foundation, exchanging experiences on survivor-centered services, women’s empowerment, and approaches to supporting women affected by violence.

The wider exchange highlighted the importance of economic empowerment, vocational training, psychosocial support, and long-term reintegration in helping survivors rebuild their lives.

Strengthening Access to Justice

ENWS also engaged with Thailand’s Office of the Attorney General to learn about legal frameworks, criminal investigation, victim protection, evidence collection, witness protection, inter-agency coordination, and access to justice and legal aid.

The exchange reinforced the importance of integrated services, effective referral mechanisms, survivor empowerment, strong multi-sectoral coordination, and investment in social and behavioral change lessons that can contribute to strengthening GBV response systems in Ethiopia.

A Stronger National GBV Response Network

Taken together, these achievements have strengthened ENWS’s role as a national coalition advancing a coordinated, feminist, survivor-centered response to gender-based violence.

The project has contributed to improved shelter service standards and survivor-centered care, stronger advocacy and policy engagement, enhanced national awareness, improved coordination among GBV service providers, and increased use of evidence and digital tools for GBV response and advocacy.

ENWS’s broader engagement has also strengthened relationships with government authorities, community leaders, civil society, private-sector actors, and other stakeholders.

Looking Ahead

While these achievements represent important progress, ENWS recognizes that ending gender-based violence requires sustained commitment, stronger partnerships, continued investment, and long-term systems change.

The organization will continue strengthening the GBV response network, expanding private-sector partnerships and resource mobilization, continuing media and public awareness activities, strengthening digital case management, expanding integrated services, and advocating for policy improvements.

The progress made through these initiatives demonstrates the value of investing in women-led organizations, frontline service providers, evidence-based advocacy, digital innovation, survivor empowerment, and multi-sectoral partnerships.

Together, ENWS and its partners are working toward a stronger, more coordinated and survivor-centered GBV response system one that places the dignity, safety, rights, and empowerment of women and girls at its center.

Ethiopian Network of Women Shelters (ENWS)
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | 2026