Plan International’s Model Toose Project Changing Lives In Chiredzi
Over 1000 families in Chiredzi urban have benefited from the ‘Toose’ project, a gender-transformative initiative which aims to reduce intimate partner violence (IPV) and gender-based violence (GBV) through a combination of cash-based transfers and community engagement.
The Toose project is being implemented by Plan International Zimbabwe in partnership with the World Food Program (WFP) and is part of the Urban Social Assistance Program which encompasses Cash Based Transfers (CBT), Internal Saving and Lending Schemes (ISAL) and Urban Resilience Building Project (URBP).
‘Toose,’ which loosely means “together,” is family well-being programme aimed at reducing intimate partner violence and all forms of violence against women and girls. It uses an intergrated approach of GBV prevention and response.
According to Miyela Mabunda, Plan International Zimbabwe Program Coordinator, the Toose sessions have led to significant positive changes within households.
“From the testimonies shared, a lot of couples improved their relationships as they were reportedly communicating well and were able to resolve conflict without resorting to violence.
“Partners now consult each other or family members on decisions which affect the family,” Mabunda said during a briefing with the WFP delegation, which included representatives from the Group of Friends on Protection and Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP) Mission and the WFP regional office in Johannesburg.
Mabunda further highlighted that as a result of the Toose project, men have started sharing household responsibilities with their partners, a shift that came from discussions on the Gender Balance Tree.
Speaking after observing a Toose session in Chiredzi urban Ward 3, Billy Mwiinga, WFP Deputy Country Director in Zimbabwe said the project shows what it means to change people’s lives.
“As you have said, you had so many visits and I am sure a lot more visits are coming because we want to showcase what can actually happen if nicely done, proper planning, engagement with other partners, so for us its an example of what it means to change people’s lives
“I have been in a group where we met ladies from ward 3 and from their stories, you could really see transformation, others have become entrepreneurs, they are selling, they are producing their own products and selling on the market,” said Mwiinga.
According to WFP, Chiredzi, located in natural farming region 5, faces frequent droughts, with the period from July to March being particularly difficult for women and girls due to food insecurity and water shortages.
Data from the Musasa Project indicates that 41% of GBV survivors are cash-based transfer (CBT) beneficiaries, with 67% of those seeking information on GBV referral pathways also being CBT beneficiaries.
