CHI, Partners Boost Capacity for GBV Case Management | News

For survivors of gender-based violence (GBV) in Liberia, access to justice, medical care, psychosocial support, and protection services often depends on how well institutions work together. 

To strengthen that coordination, the Community Healthcare Initiative (CHI), in partnership with the Liberia Association of Psychosocial Services (LAPS) and the Association of Female Lawyers of Liberia (AFELL), has concluded a two-day training aimed at improving survivor-centered service delivery and referral systems.

The training brought together representatives from key government institutions including the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Justice, alongside civil society actors, CHI, AFELL, LAPS, and community-based structures such as Community Management Committees (CMCs), Community Governance Networks (CGNs), and Community Action Committees (CACs).

Organizers said the initiative was designed to close coordination gaps that often delay or weaken support to survivors. Throughout the sessions, participants engaged in case studies, role plays, group discussions, and practical exercises focused on survivor-centered approaches, trauma-informed care, Psychological First Aid, ethical referral systems, case management, confidentiality, informed consent, and inter-agency coordination.

Opening the training, CHI emphasized that survivors typically require multiple layers of support that no single institution can provide alone.

“Survivors deserve a response system that is compassionate, coordinated, and accessible,” a CHI representative said. “This training is about ensuring that every actor—from community volunteers to government ministries—understands their role and works together to provide quality support.”

A key focus of the training was strengthening referral pathways. Participants mapped existing services and examined bottlenecks that often prevent survivors from accessing timely assistance. Through group exercises, stakeholders identified gaps in communication and coordination between community structures and formal service providers, and proposed strategies to improve efficiency and reduce secondary trauma.

The sessions also deepened participants’ understanding of trauma-informed care, highlighting how violence and abuse can affect a survivor’s behavior, memory, emotional response, and decision-making. Role-playing exercises allowed participants to practice active listening, empathy, and survivor engagement techniques designed to prevent re-traumatization.

Representatives from the Ministry of Gender, Ministry of Health, and Ministry of Justice shared updates on their institutional mandates and reaffirmed their commitment to coordinated action in responding to GBV cases. Community leaders from CMCs, CGNs, and CACs also provided insights into the realities survivors face at the local level, stressing the importance of community involvement in early identification, referral, and follow-up support.

The training further reinforced core ethical principles including confidentiality, informed consent, and the “Do No Harm” approach. Participants worked through real-life scenarios to explore how service providers can better safeguard survivor dignity, privacy, and safety throughout the response process.

At the end of the training, participants developed a set of recommendations aimed at improving referral mechanisms, strengthening collaboration across sectors, and ensuring more consistent survivor-centered service delivery nationwide.

Many participants described the training as practical and timely, noting that it helped them better understand the importance of cross-sector collaboration in addressing GBV.

The organizers said the completion of the training marks an important step toward building a more coordinated national response system for GBV survivors. By bringing together government agencies, civil society organizations, and community structures, the initiative aims to ensure that survivors receive timely, respectful, and comprehensive support.

The Community Healthcare Initiative (CHI), in collaboration with LAPS and AFELL, continues to work on strengthening community protection systems, expanding access to psychosocial and legal services, and improving coordinated responses to gender-based violence and related forms of abuse across Liberia.