Innovation to end Gender-Based Violence

20 Gender-based violence (GBV) actors from the Ministry of Women Empowerment and the Family, Ministry of Public Health & Civil Society Organisations join UNFPA in a 3days workshop in Douala to explore the use of the “AlertGBV” online platform as an innovative tool for the digitalization of GBV case reporting, sensitisation & referral.

“AlertGBV” is a website designed by Women in Entrepreneurship and Technology (WETECH) which gives survivors an opportunity to speak out anonymously, a space to raise awareness on Gender Based Violence (GBV) and depression as well as a bridge to build an online community of support. The platform integrates automated messaging (chatbot) using personalized and adapted language to encourage survivors to express themselves and become aware of Gender-Based Violence as well as refer them to available services. 

"Technology can make the fight against GBV more efficient as well as curb inequalities...With the Ministry of Women Empowerment and the Family and Wetech, we are here to look at the best functionality for an application which can refer in a timely manner and with a survivor-centered approach all survivors of GBV in Cameroon." Mrs. Noemi Dalmonte, UNFPA Deputy Resident Representative, explained.

WETECH is a women-led incubator supporting women in developing new solutions with the use of technology in several different domains. Thanks to UNFPA Cameroon’s support, the workshop was an opportunity for WETECH to meet some of the GBV actors present in different parts of the country. The primary objective of the workshop was to integrate the expertise of GBV actors so as to restructure the "AlertGBV" platform in a bid to have it comply with GBV core principles as well as get GBV actors to familiarize with the perspective of integrating it in their everyday work.

“It was great for us to meet these actors. It is important for us to have a database of contacts of associations, psychologists and other professionals ready to help survivors. Statistics and awareness raising guides also enable survivors to report emergencies and/or send distress signals in case of violence.” Says Elodie Kenla, founder of WETECH

Ending Gender-based Violence and harmful cultural practices is among UNFPA’s Three Transformative Results to be achieved by 2030 at the global level. To achieve this goal, UNFPA identified six accelerators among which Innovation and Digitalisation. In Cameroon, UNFPA has put special emphasis on this accelerator in the framework of its 8th Country Programme of Cooperation (2022 – 2026).   It is in this light that UNFPA is working closely to support WETECH after its recent victory as one of the selected organisations of “The Joint UNFPA Innovation Challenge”. This challenge was lunched in 2022 with World Intellectual Property Organisation, International Trade Centre & International Telecommunication Union to provide grants to organisations which proposed innovations which empowered women and girls.  WETECH’s “AlertGBV” is among the 10winners of this Challenge 2022 . WETECH’s victory came after 300 submissions, from 61 countries & 20finalists from which 10 initiatives were selected.