MAINSTREAMING PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT IN ECONOMIC STRENGTHENING ACTIVITIES FOR CAREGIVERS IN BENUE STATE NORH CENTRAL, NIGERIA PRESENTED BY ADI VERA EMMANUEL TERYILA MEMORIAL LIBERTY FOUNDATION (ETMLF ), BENUE STATE NIGERIA. Background ETMLF is an NGO registered in Nigeria We are partners of CRS Nigerias SMILE Project which supports 500, 000 vulnerable children and 125, 000 caregivers across Nigeria EMTLF provides core OVC services to 4000 vulnerable children and 1025 caregivers in Gwer East LGA, Benue state Conflict, poverty and high HIV prevalence(12.1%) are the major causes of household vulnerability. The society is highly patriarchal Key Messages in this presentation Mainstreaming PSS in economic strengthening for women increases their self esteem Increased self-esteem stimulates womens engagement in economic activities and reduces their dependence on external assistance Psychosocial support and economic strengthening interventions should be context-specific for better outcomes for women Problem Statement Cultural practices among the Tiv of Benue limit womens participation in social and economic activities Women groups are perceived as platforms for gossip Men generally decide what women do with their lives Womens participation in economic strengthening activities is perceived as challenging patriarchal authority and power dynamics in families Disempowerment of women results in widespread gender-based violence, disease spread and poverty Interventions/Methodology Building the capacity of caregivers on PSS Life skills training during caregivers meetings Formation of SILC groups Communal farms Provision of pro-vitamin A cassava and OFSP to improve food security, nutrition and ES outcomes Tree planting for nutrition, income generation and healthy environment Entrepreneurship and skills training Community dialogue with men through the intermediation of traditional and religious leaders Results 31 SILC groups formed in less than year a in communities where none had ever existed 558 women now save and loan from SILC groups 50 men joined different SILC groups and attend caregivers meeting with women Results 700 female caregivers gainfully engaged in various income generating activities Reduction in gender-based violence and increased family harmony Men look after the children when the women are out Women increasingly involved in household decision making Women no longer obtain permission from their husbands before taking out loans from SILC groups CHALLENGES Despite results achieved so far, Cultural norms still remains a strong barrier that limits caregivers access to the service. Men generally think women should not be involved in economic strengthening activities for obvious reasons... Mens refusal to embrace gender equality still possess a challenge. Gender equality is rather perceived by many as challenging patriarchal authority and power dynamics in families. Summary Mainstreaming psychosocial support in economic strengthening activities for women with active male involvement is effective in empowering women, increasing household resilience and self-reliance. Involvement of traditional rulers to promote economic strengthening activities is highly result oriented to mainstreaming PSS Thank you