Gender & Social inclusion, Advocacy and Influencing, and Protection & Human/Women Rights Capacity Building Trainings

Introduction 

Funded by the European Union and in partnership with Oxfam Yemen under project of Empowering Women's Rights Organizations and Civil Society Organizations, ATYAF for Studies and Consultations conducted a capacity assessment  ans capacity development activities for (10) civil society organizations, including 7 women's rights organizations and 3 civil society organizations operating in the governorates of (Aden, Hadramout, Shabwa, Marib, and Taiz) in monitoring human /women's rights violations, advocacy, risk management, influence, and public awareness. These organizations were selected based on their previous experience in human rights/women's rights and demonstrating neutrality, and participating at the local community level and improving their work in women's rights, human rights, peace and development. A capacity assessment was conducted to identify gaps and needs in the capacity of each organization, focusing on areas that need capacity building and developing a comprehensive and customized capacity building plan for all targeted organizations and identifying capacity building needs in the areas of gender, human rights, women's rights, advocacy, influencing, and risk management. This training is a result of the recommendations of the assessment carried out by ATYAF Consulting which will contribute to strengthening capacities and activities related to advocacy, gender, women rights monitoring, risk management and public awareness. The capacity building sessions involved Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) in the capacity building sessions who will be considered active individuals at the community level to ensure their effective participation on the ground during implementation.

ATYAF consulting has selected the best trainers in each thematic areas in gender, advocacy and human rights who has more than 8 years’ experience and understands the local context and speaks the same language. The training program targeted women's rights organizations (WROs), civil society organizations (CSOs) and human rights defenders (HRDs) to enhance knowledge and skills related to advocacy, influenceing, risk management and public awareness, gender analysis skills, gender-based violence response and community integration, as well as women's rights monitoring, referral and protection skills. The program focused on interactive methods, including advocacy and influence strategies, risk and opportunity assessment. The program included a set of objectives, including capacity building through developing skills and knowledge on gender issues, teaching context analysis methods and understanding local dynamics, in addition to ensuring the ability to apply the acquired knowledge in the daily work of the targeted organizations. The training content also covered advocacy principles, mechanisms and strengthening of civil space, evidence-based advocacy and the use of digital platforms to promote advocacy issues and increase community engagement.

The training methodology relied on interactive methods such as working groups, group exercises, and case studies, also provided educational materials such as training guides and brochures to facilitate continuous learning. The effectiveness of the program was evaluated through a variety of methods, including pre- and post-evaluation and collecting feedback from participants to determine their satisfaction with the content and methods used.

The evaluation results also included an analysis of the gaps between knowledge and behaviour before and after the program, which contributed to identifying the actual impact of the training, and provided clear recommendations for improving future programs and expanding outreach. The program represented an important step in strengthening the capacities of women’s rights organizations and civil society organizations in the fields of human rights, and reflected the importance of supporting gender and protection issues, and contributed to helping participants apply the acquired knowledge and skills in their local contexts, which enhanced its societal benefit.

Capacity Development Needs Assessment:

Before the training A comprehensive capacity needs assessment was conducted for the 10 Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) operating in Yemen, with a focus on five governorates of Aden, Hadramout, Shabwa, Marib, and Taiz. These organizations play a critical role in addressing human rights violations, advancing gender equality, and fostering social inclusion in a country grappling with complex humanitarian challenges and fragile governance. 

The 10 CBOs reported that all thematic areas are important and very critical in their organizations that they need capacity building in; advocacy and influencing strategies & Risk Management very crucial %80, protection and pathways referrals%70, Human, Women rights violations monitoring and M&E% 60, Gender based Violence and financial management%50, gender and gender mainstreaming, social inclusion and feminist transformative change %40. 

Capacity Development Planning:

After the capacity assessment is completed, ATYAF consulting developed capacity development plans per WROs/LWOs based on the gaps, strengths and weaknesses and needs identified in the assessment reports. ATYAF consulting formulated tailored capacity building plans for each of the CBOs through engaging the representatives of the organization in this activity, while highlighting the identified gaps and proposing the targeted interventions (trainings, resources, partnerships) and agreed timelines to enhance their effectiveness in these key areas for each organization. Developed tailored capacity building plans for each CBO that outline strategies to strengthen protection-related capacities, including training on gender-based violence response, protection, and conflict-sensitive programming, with clear resource allocation and implementation timelines. Shared a draft of the proposed plans to Oxfam before finalizing for reviewing to ensure alignment with the program goals. This action is small part of the capacity strengthening activities for the target CBOs which included only three trainings in specific areas in a very tight time to provide participant CBOs and HRD with the key skills and knowledge in the thematic areas and provide them with some key resources that will help them during the project implementation and long-term capacity development plan.

Capacity Development Trainings Conducted :

ATYAF executed capacity strengthening trainings to address the key parts of the identified gaps, providing practical and theoretical knowledge to the selected Women Rights Organizations (WROs) and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and engagement of the Human Rights defenders (HRDs) at the community level. Designed training programs that directly address human /women rights monitoring and reporting , integrating sessions on confidential reporting, and referral pathways, gender analysis , gender justice and transformative and feminist approaches, advocacy planning , risk management reflected in the training manuals to guide the CBOs in enhancing their protection measures.The trainings and sessions will enhance and build knowledge and skills related to key steps in advocacy, gender , and monitoring human /women rights violations and reporting and referrals pathways. 50 participants from 10 local CBOs/ NGOs divided into two groups for a period of 20 days in February 2025.

ATYAF experts has great knowledge of the context in the target locations so they navigated challenges and Incorporated risk management strategies focused on protecting vulnerable individuals, particularly women and marginalized groups, during advocacy and awareness activities, emphasizing digital safety and protection strategies to mitigate risks in information sharing, shrinking civic space, and the evolving political and humanitarian context. Feminist Principles, Feminist and Transformative Approaches and Women Transformative Leadership, challenge gender inequality and other intersecting inequitable. The experts ensured that the proposed plans are practical, sustainable, and culturally appropriate.

1. Advocacy, influencing, & Risk Management Training:

This training successfully developed participants' practical and theoretical skills in advocacy, influence strategies, risk management, and enhancing civil space. By equipping women's rights and civil society organizations with these capacities, the training contributed to the achievement of social justice and equality in their communities.
Key Results:
 * Understanding and applying advocacy principles: 85% of participants demonstrated a strong understanding and ability to apply three basic principles of social advocacy through practical presentations, exceeding the target of 80%.
 * Developing effective strategic plans: 95% of participants successfully designed actionable strategic plans, showing a clear ability to analyze risks and opportunities, surpassing the 90% target.
 * Analyzing the local context: 90% of participants demonstrated a new skill set in preparing comprehensive analytical reports, with each report including at least five key points on local dynamics and the social and economic landscape, exceeding the 85% target.
 * Managing risks and opportunities: 88% of participants were able to develop and articulate a risk management strategy with three main steps, and provided a practical explanation of how to address identified risks, exceeding the 85% target.
 * Promoting civic space and defending human rights: 92% of participants acquired the ability to organize awareness-raising events in their local communities, exceeding the 85% target.
 * Building strong alliance networks: 95% of participants successfully formed a network of more than five effective alliances with similar organizations, exceeding the 90% target.
 * Data collection and analysis: 88% of participants acquired and applied techniques for analyzing and designing data collection tools, providing testimonies and analytical results that supported a specific position on human rights issues, surpassing the 85% target.
 * Designing and implementing effective media campaigns: 95% of participants developed and launched a media campaign using storytelling and social media, and successfully measured community participation through individual posts and interactions, exceeding the 90% target.

2.Gender and Social Inclusion Training:

This training successfully enhanced participants' understanding of gender issues and social inclusion, providing them with the necessary tools and skills to promote equality and support women's leadership in their communities and organizations.
Key Results:
 * Enhanced understanding of gender issues: 100% of the 50 participants showed a deep understanding of basic gender concepts through case studies and ideal models, and demonstrated the ability to apply these concepts within their own organizations.
 * Comprehensive social inclusion skills: All 50 participants developed comprehensive social inclusion skills through interactive activities, and reported a high level of learning from each other’s experiences.
 * Gender analysis skills: All 50 participants were equipped with gender analysis skills and successfully utilized at least two reliable measurement tools in practical applications.
 * Developed women’s leadership skills: Participants successfully enhanced their leadership skills with a focus on effective communication and negotiation, demonstrating the ability to effectively influence their communities.
 * Raised awareness on women's role in humanitarian response: The training successfully raised awareness among 20 human rights and women's rights defenders about the importance of supporting women's organizations in the humanitarian response system.
 * Enhanced leadership supporting women: Participants highlighted successful local and global models that reflect diverse experiences, which enhanced their leadership skills in supporting women.
 * Empowered participants to use tools for gender justice: Participants demonstrated the ability to use necessary tools and mechanisms to achieve gender justice, including legal resources and advocacy tools.
 * Promoted leadership through successful models: The training successfully promoted leadership that supports women by highlighting successful local and global models.
 * Raised awareness on international agreements: The training successfully raised awareness about the importance of international agreements such as Security Council Resolution 1325 and CEDAW in supporting women's participation in peace processes and their rights, with participants demonstrating knowledge on how to implement these agreements locally.
 * Raised awareness about gender-based violence (GBV): The training successfully raised awareness about different forms of gender-based violence by reviewing real cases and emphasizing the importance of addressing them.
 * Developed mechanisms to respond to and prevent GBV: Participants successfully developed mechanisms to respond to and prevent gender-based violence, in partnership with stakeholders, to ensure the provision of health, psychological, and social support.
 * Understood legal and human rights frameworks: Participants demonstrated an understanding of the legal and human rights frameworks for gender justice by analyzing current policies and their consequences for different groups.

3. Human /Women Rights Violations Monitoring and Referral Pathways:

This training successfully enabled participants to understand human and women's rights, and to effectively monitor, document, and refer cases of violations, all while adhering to ethical and safe practices.
Key Results:
 * Understanding human rights and women's rights: Participants successfully grasped the basic concepts and principles of human rights and women's rights and were able to analyze local and international contexts of violations.
 * Skills in monitoring and documenting violations: Participants were effectively introduced to the concept and mechanisms of monitoring violations and demonstrated the ability to collect information professionally and objectively according to international standards. They were also equipped with the necessary methods and tools to document violations efficiently, including the use of photos, videos, and testimonies.
 * Application of protection and referral mechanisms: Participants gained the necessary knowledge to protect victims and ensure they receive appropriate support. They were successfully trained on how to refer cases to competent authorities (medical, legal, psychological) and were introduced to the case management system and the advantages of a sustainable referral system.
 * Developing a referral system: Participants demonstrated the ability to identify the challenges of referring women's violations and successfully gained the foundational skills to establish a referral system.
 * Ethical and safe practices: Participants were able to apply ethical practices during documentation, emphasizing the importance of protecting the confidentiality of information and the privacy of individuals. They also acquired the necessary tools and guidance to ensure the safety of witnesses and victims during the documentation process.