Launch of GBV Awareness Campaign Empowers Women Traders in Koindu, Foya and Jendema-Bo Waterside
In a groundbreaking initiative aimed at protecting women cross-border traders, the Building Inclusive Business Ecosystems for Stabilization and Transformation (BI-BEST) project officially launched its Gender-Based Violence (GBV) awareness campaign in the border communities of Koindu, Sierra Leone, and Foya, Liberia, in March 2024. This initiative, funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and implemented by the Mano River Union (MRU) Secretariat, seeks to empower women traders by raising awareness of GBV issues and providing tools for prevention and redress. The campaign builds on an earlier GBV awareness effort launched in December 2023 in the Jendema-Bo Waterside areas, which successfully brought attention to the issues faced by women in cross-border trade.
The GBV awareness campaign is a key component of the BI-BEST project, which focuses on improving safety for women traders who often face harassment, exploitation, and violence in their daily business interactions. These challenges, particularly prevalent at border crossings, hinder their ability to engage fully in cross-border trade and achieve economic empowerment. The awareness-raising activities are part of a broader mission to create safe and inclusive market environments for women traders, a vital economic group in the region.
The campaign, conducted in collaboration with the Ministries of Gender in both Sierra Leone and Liberia, seeks to sensitize women traders, border security personnel, and local authorities about the dangers of GBV and the mechanisms available to report and address such cases. Participants were engaged in a series of activities, including a float parade through the main streets and markets of Koindu and Foya, speeches, cultural performances, and soccer matches. These activities were designed to create an open dialogue about the challenges women face in cross-border trade and the steps that can be taken to protect them. “We are here to ensure that women traders can move freely and without fear in their daily business activities. This campaign aims to make that a reality,” said a representative from the Ministry of Gender at the event.
The campaign utilized a mix of approaches to engage local populations, ensuring that the messages reached a broad audience. Women traders, local leaders, school children, and community members marched together to raise awareness about GBV, with messages delivered in local dialects. The Ministry of Gender, in collaboration with the BI-BEST project, developed a series of key messages focused on recognizing and reporting GBV, empowering women to stand against violence, and encouraging community-wide involvement in preventing abuse. Posters and T-shirts with these messages were distributed among the participants, reinforcing the campaign’s objectives.
Cultural performances and soccer matches were also organized to further engage the community, using these activities as platforms to communicate the importance of GBV prevention. In addition to the community activities, local and national media houses were engaged to promote the event, spreading the messages of the campaign beyond the immediate audience.
The launch was supported by a wide range of stakeholders, including border security personnel, local civil society organizations, and community leaders. Representatives from both the Sierra Leonean and Liberian governments were present, underscoring the importance of cross-border cooperation in addressing GBV. Women cross-border traders, who are often vulnerable to exploitation and harassment, are at the heart of the campaign. A recent study by the International Labour Organization (ILO) highlighted that women traders frequently experience sexual harassment and exploitation when dealing with border officials and other actors in the trade ecosystem. This campaign aimed to build awareness among women traders about their rights and the redress mechanisms available to them, empowering them to recognize and report abuse.
One of the central goals of the campaign is to ensure that women traders can conduct their business in a safe environment, free from violence. The BI-BEST project emphasizes the importance of creating gender-sensitive policies and improving the infrastructure at border crossings to support this effort. While the GBV awareness campaign has made a strong start, more work remains to be done. Among the key recommendations from the campaign is the establishment of localized structures to maintain ongoing awareness and engagement, particularly with men in the community. “Creating continuous dialogue and community-driven solutions is essential to breaking down the cultural and social norms that enable GBV,” stated a representative from the Ministry of Gender.
Additionally, the campaign has highlighted the need for improved GBV redress mechanisms. One of the next steps will be to set up a one-stop shop at border points where women traders can report incidents of violence and harassment and seek support. This initiative is expected to make cross-border trade safer for women, allowing them to thrive economically without fear of violence or exploitation.
The launch of the GBV awareness campaign in Koindu and Foya represents a critical step in empowering women traders and creating safer environments for cross-border trade. As the BI-BEST project continues to unfold, the collaboration between local authorities, government ministries, and the women traders themselves will be key to ensuring the success of these initiatives. Through continued awareness, community engagement, and policy reforms, the region is on a path toward greater gender equality and economic empowerment for women traders. This campaign is not just about raising awareness—it is about changing the lives of women traders for the better and building stronger, more resilient communities across the Mano River Union.
