Empowering Market Community: Dissemination of the NATIONAL BUDGET ANALYSIS REPORT TO DETERMINE SEXUAL & GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE (SGBV) RELATED SUPPORT IN SIERRA LEONE

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The Feminist Alliance (G2G, WAVES and CVF)

Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) remains a critical issue affecting many communities worldwide. Addressing it requires not only strong policies but also transparency and community involvement. That’s why the Feminist Alliance (Girl2Girl Empowerment Movement (G2G) WAVES and CVF want Tombo Community (market) to disseminate the budget analysis reports on SGBV.

Why Share the Budget Analysis Report with Market People?

Market people interact with diverse groups daily and are influential community members. By sharing detailed information on how budgets for SGBV prevention and response are allocated and spent, we empower them to:

  • Understand government and organizational commitments
  • Advocate for more effective use of resources
  • Hold authorities accountable
  • Become active participants in creating safer environments

The Process of Dissemination

  1. Simplifying the Report
    Budget documents can be dense and technical. Our first step was to break down the report into clear, jargon-free language, focusing on how funds impact real-life services like shelters, counselling, and awareness programs.
  2. Choosing Accessible Venues
    Markets are vibrant hubs where many gather daily. We organized interactive sessions during market days at convenient times, ensuring we reach maximum participants without disrupting their work.
  3. Engaging Presentations
    Using visual aids, info graphics, and relatable examples, we presented key findings. This made the data easier to understand and allowed for open discussions on community needs and gaps in SGBV services.
  4. Feedback and Dialogue
    Dissemination is not one-way. We encouraged market people to share their experiences and suggestions, creating a feedback loop that informs future budget advocacy and program planning.

Impact and Next Steps

The sessions sparked meaningful conversations about the realities of SGBV in surrounding communities. Many attendees expressed interest in forming community watchdog groups to monitor local SGBV interventions and budget use.

Moving forward, we plan to:

  • Expand dissemination to other community centres and trading hubs
  • Collaborate with local leaders to strengthen budget transparency
  • Support market people with advocacy tools to influence policy decisions

Conclusion

Disseminating the budget analysis report on SGBV to market people is a vital step toward community empowerment and accountability. When people understand where and how resources are allocated, they gain the power to demand better protection and support services.

Together, informed communities can drive the change needed to end SGBV.

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