Strategic Plan 2021-2023 - www.mukwegefoundation.org - Dr. Denis Mukwege Foundation
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Strategic Plan 2021-2023 www.mukwegefoundation.org
Contents 3- Introduction -2.469-2. Our Mission -2.469-2. Theory of Change 4 -2.4-2. Opportunities 5- Strategy 1: Promote access to holistic, quality care for -2.469 survivors of sexual violence worldwide 6 -2.4-2. Holistic care projects 7 -2.4-2. Three-year strategy 8- Strategy 2: support survivor-led activism for solidarity -2.469 and recognition, and to end stigma 9 -2.4-2. Key recommendations 10-2.-2. Three-year strategy 11 -2.4-2. National survivor networks 12- Strategy 3: Advocate for accountability and survivor- -2.469 centred transitional justice mechanisms, including -2.469 reparations and redress. 13- Partnerships 14 - Continuing support for Panzi’s work in Congo -2.469 Organisational development -2.469-2. Strengthening the backbone 16 -2.-2. Communications 17-2.4-2. Methods 18 -2.-2. Fundraising 19 -2.-2. Governance -2.469-2. Conclusion -2.469-2. Covid -2.469-2. Contact
Introduction
Our Mission and Theory of Change
Our Mission
We support survivors’ demands for a world Our approach is survivor-centred, meaning
where sexual violence as a weapon of war is that we work alongside survivors, and
no longer tolerated and bears consequences that we believe survivors themselves are
for individual perpetrators and states. We best positioned to define their needs and
work for a future where survivors receive the solutions. We work to create the conditions
holistic care & compensation that they need that will allow survivors to take a leading role
to rebuild their lives. We create opportunities in fighting for their rights.
for survivors to speak out and be heard, and
where they can organise to create change,
influence policies, and demand justice and Our strategies reinforce each other, creating
accountability. an enabling environment where survivors can
genuinely become agents of change:
• When survivors have access to dignified,
Theory of Change holistic, quality care which meets all of
Our goal is to change the collective response their needs, they can recover and heal
to sexual violence in conflict – so how do we from trauma, and regain their personal
see this change happening? To heal from agency;
the harms of sexual violence, victims need • When survivors are given safe spaces to
to regain agency and control over their lives, share their experiences among peers, and
their decisions, and their bodies. Their needs have their stories heard, they can support
are complex and interconnected, and the each other and start to reclaim their
solutions need to be designed with this in power;
mind.
• When survivors know their rights and
The Mukwege Foundation sees 3 can voice their needs, they can become
interconnected strategies as essential for agents of change. They can organise
change to happen: themselves to claim their rights to justice
and reparations.
1. Promote access to holistic, quality care for • When survivors and their communities
survivors of sexual violence worldwide; speak out about sexual violence, they can
break through society’s collective silence,
2. Support survivor-led activism for solidarity
and challenge deeply rooted taboos
and recognition, and to end stigma;
which blame victims, exclude them
3. Advocate for accountability and survivor- from decision-making, and leave them
centred transitional justice, including powerless to change their situation.
reparations and redress.
• When survivors’ experiences and
testimonies are documented on their own
The underlying assumption for all these terms, the harms that they have suffered
strategies is that the collective silence can be publicly acknowledged, and the
around sexual violence is what makes it widespread denial of these atrocities can
such an effective weapon. It fuels a sense of be challenged.
shame in victims and their family members, • When proper survivor-centred
enables impunity for perpetrators, and accountability and transitional justice
prevents victims from seeking support. mechanisms are in place, the cycle of
impunity and recurrence can be broken.
Introduction
Opportunities
As the Mukwege Foundation, we are reparation projects. Ongoing collaboration
grateful for the ample opportunities we with the Global Survivors Fund will allow for
have had in the five years since we became continued synergies and opportunities to
an organisation, as well as the increased support local survivor networks in countries
visibility of our work following the Nobel around the globe.
Peace Prize in 2018. Building on these opportunities, over the
The creation of SEMA, the Global Network next three years, the Mukwege Foundation
of Victims and Survivors to End Wartime will continue to expand and strengthen its
Sexual Violence, and our close working programme and advocacy work. To expand
relationship with local, in-country survivor our current work on holistic care, to mobilise
movements worldwide has contributed to survivors’ agency, and to promote survivor-
both a recognition of the concept “nothing centric transitional justice, we will need
about us without us,” and to the relevance to strengthen our operational, technical,
of the Mukwege Foundation’s work at the and staff capacities and further nurture
international level. our strong working relationship with Panzi
Foundation. It will also be essential to
In the current global humanitarian and
support Panzi in growing its capacity to
development landscape, the concept of
jointly expand the holistic care model beyond
holistic care is increasingly accepted, and
the borders of DRC.
the principle of South-south capacity
building resonates well with the international The Mukwege Foundation will develop
discourse around post-colonial remnants in country strategy documents reflecting a
international relations. thorough understanding of the context,
including survivors’ needs and opportunities.
The creation of the Global Survivors Fund
These country strategies will guide our multi-
in Geneva in 2019, following the strong
year engagement on both holistic care as
advocacy of the Mukwege Foundation and
well as national survivors networks, and
SEMA members, together with Dr. Denis
serve as the basis for targeted fundraising.
Mukwege and Ms. Nadia Murad (2018
We look forward to the opportunities to
Nobel Peace Prize co-laureate), has created
come in the next three years.
strong opportunities for survivor-centric
Strategy 1: Promote access to holistic,
quality care for survivors of sexual
violence worldwide
We promote the model of holistic care for Panzi’s model of holistic care is structured
survivors of conflict-related sexual violence, around four pillars that respond to the inter-
pioneered at Panzi Hospital DRC, as a connected consequences of sexual violence.
human rights standard globally, and we Each survivor of sexual violence that
facilitate the roll out of this model to other accesses Panzi’s services has a dedicated
(post-)conflict zones. Wherever possible, social assistant assigned to her or him from
we promote an approach where these the start. Together, they design a tailor-
services are integrated in existing healthcare made healing pathway that includes:
systems, and we work with local actors to
• medical care, including surgery for severe
embed the model sustainably in the country
gynaecological injuries where necessary;
context.
• psychological support through one-on-
one support and/or group counselling;
• legal representation, and assistance in
obtaining forensic evidence;
• socio-economic assistance such
as literacy training, small business
management, or microcredit
programmes.
The Mukwege Foundation facilitates a
process of knowledge- and expertise transfer
among Panzi and other multi-sectoral
service providers in conflict-affected settings
outside DRC. We do this through:
• Country-level needs assessments;
• Technical accompaniment of local service
providers and other stakeholders;
• South-south training and knowledge
exchange programmes with Panzi
experts;
• Fundraising for projects implementing
the holistic care model;
• Deployment of field coordination staff as
needed;
• International advocacy.
To further showcase this holistic care
model as a human rights standard, it will
be important for the Mukwege Foundation
to develop a track-record of expertise
in different countries and contexts and
demonstrate the applicability of the model
in active conflict, post-conflict, displacement,
recovery, and transition settings.
Holistic care projects
Central African Republic Great Lakes
In March 2020 we started a four-year In 2019, the Mukwege- and Panzi
program in Central African Republic Foundations started a collaboration with
(CAR) with a consortium consisting the International Conference of the Great
of the Pierre Fabre Foundation (PFF), Lakes Region (ICGLR1) Regional training
l’Institut Francophone pour la Justice et la facility. This collaboration aims at enhancing
Démocratie (IFJD) and the Mukwege- and survivors’ access to quality holistic assistance
Panzi Foundations to implement a holistic in the Great Lakes Region by integrating
care project in Bangui. the topic of holistic care in the institutions’
This project will improve access to quality training activities, which form part of an
holistic care for survivors of sexual violence ambitious regional programme to train
by means of the creation of a so-called thousands of Sexual and Gender-based
one-stop-centre. It is an example of a South- Violence (SGBV) professionals in ICGLR
south approach, enabling a team of Panzi member states, utilizing a training of
experts to work alongside their Central trainers approach. This integrated training
African colleagues to support them in setting will be piloted in the Democratic Republic of
up a holistic care system. Congo (DRC), Zambia, Rwanda, Uganda and
the Central African Republic by joint teams
The team adopts a survivor-centric of Panzi trainers and trainers selected by
approach, ensuring strong survivor the regional training facility, with the aim to
involvement in the development of the embed the holistic model of care within the
project. By the end of the project, an healthcare systems in the Great Lakes.
estimated 3,000 survivors of sexual violence
and women with serious reproductive health
issues like fistula or prolapse will benefit Guinea
from medical, psychosocial, legal, and socio-
Since January 2018, in partnership with
economic assistance.
Panzi Foundation DRC and L’association
The Mukwege Foundation deployed an des Victimes, Parents et Amis du septembre
international project coordinator to Bangui, 2009 (AVIPA), the Mukwege Foundation
who supports the team of experts from has been working on strengthening support
Panzi and other project staff in-country. for survivors of sexual and gender-based
violence who were assaulted during the
massacre of the 28th of September 2009
Iraq in a stadium in Conakry, Guinea. Through
In November 2019, the Mukwege Foundation a South-south capacity building approach,
co-launched a project with Yazda in Northern Panzi has worked side by side with a team
Iraq. The aim is to establish a modest one- of doctors and psychologists in Guinea for a
stop-centre for survivors of sexual violence period of three years, for which the Mukwege
by ISIS. This centre will be operated by Yazda Foundation has funded project activities.
and will offer integrated services to meet Since the start of the project, survivors have
the various needs of survivors of located in gained access to medical, psychosocial, and
IDP camps around Dohuk. Due to COVID, the socioeconomic services, as well as advocacy
project saw some delays and in 2020 support and sensitization. We are currently phasing
was mostly financial in nature, allowing out this project given the upcoming end of
Yazda to strengthen the livelihoods pillar at the contract, and the Guinean doctors and
the centre. Future training and supervision psychologists trained throughout these three
of the staff team will be conducted by years will aim to continue providing these
experienced trainers from Panzi Hospital services beyond the end of the project.
DRC, in addition to an exchange visit at
Panzi Hospital where the Yazda staff can 1
The International Conference of the Great Lakes Region
(ICGLR) Protocol on the Prevention and Suppression of Sexual
consolidate their learning. Following this Violence against Women and Children (2006) mandates the
South-south knowledge exchange, Yazda creation of a Regional Training Facility (RTF). This Regional
will then cascade their knowledge further Training Facility is mandated “for training and sensitising
judicial officers, police units, social workers, medical officers
to colleagues and professionals working in and other categories of persons who handle cases of sexual
this area. violence in the Great Lakes Region”.
Three-year strategy
Provision of holistic care
In the upcoming 3-year period, we aim to • Reinforce the Mukwege Foundation’s
continue the planned project in the Central staff capacity to develop and implement
African Republic (Project Nengo), phase out holistic care projects. This in first instance
our project in Guinea, expand our work to involves an additional staff member in
improve care for survivors in Northern Iraq, The Hague to support with strategic
and start up two holistic care projects in two oversight and expertise, but we also
of the following contexts: Colombia, Uganda, would like Mukwege Foundation staff
Burundi, Mali, Nepal or Bangladesh. being based in the field to support the
roll out of holistic care programmes. For
Though we ultimately aim at supporting
this purpose, we will develop field-work
the creation of full one-stop centres or
procedures and systems including for
other holistic care models that include all
managing and supporting field-based
four pillars of support, we will also support
staff.
projects in which the Mukwege Foundation
strengthens one or two core pillars, • Develop, together with the Panzi
prioritising the provision of compassionate team, training modules to support the
medical- and psychological care. implementation of the holistic care
handbook developed by the Mukwege
Foundation in 2018.
Advocacy for holistic care
• Strengthen and deepen country
Together with Dr. Mukwege, we will assessments to assess opportunities for
continue to promote the holistic care model holistic care projects.
at international conferences, at inter-
• Further standardise and harmonise our
agency forums, and by building a network
project tools.
of partnerships with UN agencies, NGOs,
academics, and practitioners. • Develop an advocacy strategy to
promote holistic care as a human rights
standard at national and international
How & what is needed level. In support of this advocacy strategy
In order to further roll out the holistic care we will strengthen documentation and
model and advocate for the use of the communication on the Foundation’s
holistic care model on a global level, the holistic care work.
Mukwege Foundation will: • Work on a robust M&E framework to
• Continue to work in partnership with further strengthen the evidence base,
Panzi in scaling up holistic care for which will allow us to continuously
survivors worldwide, and support Panzi improve the model and which can be used
in creating sufficient and additional to influence policy and practice.
capacity in its holistic care teams, • Further align our holistic care work
enabling the scale-up and roll out of with our support for survivor networks.
their work abroad. As a first step we will Survivor networks can play an important
recruit a Programme Manager who will role in promoting and facilitating access
liaise with the Mukwege Foundation and to care for other survivors.
be part of the management team at
Panzi Foundation.
Strategy 2: Support survivor-led activism
for solidarity, recognition and to end stigma
Survivors face devastating social stigma Inspiration, hope, and solidarity are essential
that prevents them from seeking justice, building blocks to maintain motivation
excludes them from their communities, and momentum, particularly in the face of
and often leaves them (and their children) inevitable setbacks. Connecting grassroots
without any support. Many survivors suffer survivor networks in regional clusters and in
alone, unable to fight for their rights, or to an international network helps the successes
influence programmes meant to support of one person, or one network, to be felt as
them. We believe this needs to change. the success of all. Time and again survivors
have shown us that face-to-face gatherings
have the power to deepen connections and
With our support, survivors of wartime accelerate learning processes. For these
sexual violence from 21 different countries reasons we are committed to continuing our
have formed their own global activist search for sponsors and donors to support
network. SEMA gathers victims and survivors’ annual, international retreats and
survivors of wartime sexual violence from exchanges.
all around the world, acting in solidarity,
Sustaining strong connections between
mobilising collectively to speak out about
the local, national, and international levels
the reality of sexual violence in conflict, and
within the SEMA network is essential to
advocating for change. The global network
build a shared vision and amplify survivors’
is rooted in survivor-led, activist networks
voices. Grassroots advocacy and activism
at a local level, representing thousands of
reinforce pressure to change national or
survivors of wartime sexual violence around
international legislation and vice versa.
the globe.
Online connections, meetings, media
The international dimension of this network opportunities, and translation services are
is essential, bringing survivors from different the basics needed to gain visibility and reach.
generations, continents, and cultures
Survivors are the best advocates for their
together to learn from each other. Their
own needs and rights. They need safe
exchanges help them to see the commonality
spaces, non-judgemental support, and
of their experiences in the wider context of
sufficient time for personal healing to be
systematic sexual violence used as a weapon
able to share their experiences and to find
of war.
their voices. For this, they need sustained
Their journey so far has been impressive. psychological support, good self-care, and
From joint statements to unprecedented financial support for their time and lost
mass demonstrations and inspiring speeches income as a precondition to undertake
at international events, they are speaking advocacy and lobbying.
out powerfully and acting together.
We need to invest in survivors’ capacities
We have learned invaluable lessons while and autonomy with a mixture of mentoring,
working alongside survivors to build their coaching, learning exchanges, and skills
movement. Key lessons that we will take development approaches, so that they can
forward are: set the course of their movement for the
Survivors are experts in their own right. years to come.
The Mukwege Foundation plays a key role The Mukwege Foundation serves an
in ensuring that survivor participation essential intermediary role in sourcing and
in advocacy meetings is meaningful and channelling financial resources to grassroots
respectful, and that survivor activists are survivor groups who — like many advocating
not undermined (unintentionally) as helpless for rights in fragile states, conflict zones,
victims nor exposed to re-traumatising or under repressive regimes — may not be
encounters, such as being asked intrusive legally registered.
questions.
In 2020, the Mukwege Foundation commissioned an in-depth evaluation of our work with survivor networks. The evaluation found that both the Global Action Network, SEMA, as well as national survivor networks report feeling supported and recognised by the Mukwege Foundation; the various trainings that survivors received have improved their confidence, public speaking, and leadership skills. The evaluation demonstrated that the SEMA network’s emphasis on survivor ownership and participation makes it unique in the global landscape of advocacy initiatives around sexual violence in conflict and has tangible benefits for the project participants. In the past 2 years, SEMA has led the charge to raise global awareness of the reality and consequences of wartime sexual violence, as well as the response required. Efforts have included initiating and strengthening in- country survivor networks though capacity-building training, exchanges, and knowledge sharing visits for survivors to Colombia, South Korea, Kosovo, and Bosnia & Herzegovina, several international retreats, and resources for national networks to undertake self-determined activities and local advocacy. Our work with the SEMA network succeeded in creating opportunities for meaningful survivor participation in international human rights fora and consultations where survivors advocate for their right to holistic care and reparations. Key Recommendations from the evaluation: The Mukwege Foundation’s commitment to a survivor-led approach is proof that SEMA’s approach as important as its outcomes. This is despite the fact that this approach requires considerable time and financial resources and cannot be fully achieved in the short-term. The survivor-centred approach should enter in future M&E frameworks as a discrete, process- oriented goal (rather than a framework only including outcome-oriented goals). Given the inherent difficulty of monitoring and evaluating advocacy and protection programming, due to the broad scope of key concepts and objectives, it is important to define key project concepts, outcomes, and indicators in ways that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time bound (S.M.A.R.T.). The national networks in CAR, DRC, Nigeria, and Ukraine have made considerable progress, and the Mukwege Foundation still provides support in terms of funding and coordination. In the view of survivor networks growing more autonomous, we are considering increased investment into capacity-building for national networks’ project management and fundraising capacities. The Mukwege Foundation, SEMA, and the national networks should jointly take a proactive approach to fundraising and start to develop tailored, country-specific handover plans with a view to increase autonomy and sustainability. Although the Covid-19 global pandemic renders a lot uncertain, connectivity is at the heart of what makes SEMA thrive. There are positive indications that SEMA can not only manage the challenges ahead but may even thrive in new ways. It is recommended to continue to prioritise connectivity through the adoption of digital tools and approaches.
Three-year strategy
Support to SEMA: The global network for How and what is needed
victims and survivors to end wartime sexual In order to accomplish the goals outlined
violence above, the Mukwege Foundation will:
During the coming three years we will • Organize a regional learning exchange
continue to further strengthen SEMA, each year for a core group of survivor
building on the internal lessons learned and coordinators and advocacy leaders to
the outcomes of the external evaluation. share knowledge, discuss best practices,
One key way of accomplishing this will be and build a common vision;
to continue the annually organised global • Further roll out an individual mentoring/
retreats for SEMA members in order to give coaching program for SEMA members;
victims and survivors a safe space where
they can speak out, share with their peers, • Continue the ongoing self-help webinars
receive support, and further develop their to prevent re-traumatisation and
advocacy skills. We have witnessed the promote good self-care practices of
accelerated learning processes and increase members;
in confidence and autonomy that survivors’ • Facilitate 5 webinars per year on topics
draw from these opportunities, and we chosen by SEMA members;
understand their value to build SEMA’s
sustainability and autonomy in the longer • Continue to provide modest financial
term. support for connectivity, to ensure all
SEMA members have access to internet
and can play an active role in the
network;
• Pay attention to safety and security of
survivor activists — at international and
national levels — by providing training
and support, developing protocols, and
identifying key partnerships;
• Create an online museum documenting
survivors’ histories of conflict and their
struggle for recognition, with the view to
enable survivors in creating a ‘collective
memory’ to document their testimonies
on their own terms. The e-museum will
be a home for the living memories of
survivors, an academic and historical
Another important goal will be, together archive, an awareness-raising tool, and a
with SEMA members, to review the structure resource for survivor advocacy.
of SEMA and further develop their Charter
and criteria for future membership. This
will guide the development of SEMA as a
global platform and the working relationship
of SEMA vis-a-vis the national networks.
Further, we will continue to stimulate
member engagement in SEMA, as part of a
broader effort to enable survivors to further
develop their skills and leadership.
At a national level we will expand our
support to survivor networks around the
world. This includes financial support,
capacity building, support for survivor-led
advocacy, and psychological and livelihoods
support to enable survivor activism.National survivor networks
How and what is needed
The Mukwege Foundation will continue to • We will develop a tool kit to capture,
play a key role in building capacity and giving standardise where possible, and further
technical support and advice to emerging improve the various strategies and tools/
and new survivor-led grassroots networks. trainings/lessons learned related to
We help to create advocacy opportunities, supporting the local survivor networks;
facilitate survivors’ exchanges with networks
• We will maintain a close working
in other countries, and support their process
relationship with the Global Survivors
of peer learning.
Fund to identify synergies and potential
During the period 2021-2023 we will opportunities to ensure survivor
further build on the conclusion and participation in reparations mechanisms;
recommendations of the evaluation and
• We will facilitate exchanges between
we will continue to support local survivor
national networks. For this purpose,
networks with capacity building and resource
we will organise three regional retreats
strengthening, enabling them to develop
connecting local, national and regional
solutions and actions according to their own
survivor networks for mutual support,
context.
inspiration, learning and growth;
In addition to continuing support for
• We will strive for a strong role of the
DRC, CAR, Nigeria, Guinea, Syria and
survivor networks in the implementation
Ukraine, we will extend our focus to include
of and advocacy for holistic care
support to national survivor networks in
programmes;
Uganda, Burundi, Iraq, Mali, South Sudan,
Bangladesh/Myanmar, and Nepal. • We will continue to build the skills, mutual
support mechanisms, and tools including
mental health guidelines & good practices
for the Mukwege Foundation staff
working closely with the SEMA network.Strategy 3: Advocate for accountability
and survivor-centred transitional
justice mechanisms, including
reparations and redress.
Since the network’s inception, SEMA members have been exploring how the
network can contribute to increased accountability and survivor-centred
transitional justice mechanisms and processes. Survivors made it clear that
the current mechanisms are a) lacking, b) often unsuccessful and c) not
conducive to survivors needs.
During one of its global retreats, survivors How & what is needed
identified access to reparations as one of
• In 2021, we will facilitate an international
their main priorities. As part of its support
exchange for SEMA survivors for
to national survivor networks, the Mukwege
intensive strategy discussions.
Foundation has worked on raising global
awareness on the right to reparations, • By the end of 2021, a clearly defined
understanding of existing mechanisms and advocacy strategy focused on
avenues for obtaining reparations, and on accountability and survivor-centred
building the SEMA networks’ advocacy transitional justice including action
capacities. After two years of joint advocacy plans, a timeframe, and a monitoring &
with survivors, this culminated in the evaluation framework will be in place.
establishment of the Global Survivors Fund. • We will continue to support and create
The Mukwege Foundation had envisioned advocacy opportunities based on the
2020 as a year to develop our advocacy actions plans in place (e.g. policy analysis,
strategy in areas related to accountability coalition building, lobbying).
and survivor-centred transitional justice. • The Mukwege Foundation will expand its
Given the COVID restrictions, this could advocacy capacity by hiring an advocacy
not take place, and we are now facilitating expert with experience working with
a process through which SEMA members, grassroots movements.
partner organisations specialized in
transitional justice, and the Mukwege
collectively work on an advocacy strategy
and define concrete actions for this
Strategic Plan.
Ideas on potential avenues have ranged
from organising people’s courts or public
hearings, to advocating for more focus on
survivors’ needs during criminal trials, or an
accountability ‘barometer’. Another idea is
to test a blend of transitional and criminal
justice approaches in communities.Partnerships
In the previous three-year period, from 2017 • Further strengthening the close strategic
to 2020, we invested in various partnerships alliance with partners from Panzi on
to further strengthen our impact. Through holistic care; especially Enfants de Panzi
these partnerships we learned that the clear et d’Ailleurs and Common Threads, to
added value contributed by the Mukwege allow for further expansion of the holistic
Foundation is our survivor-centred approach, care model into more countries.
which ensures survivors are involved in the
• Build on the alignment with the Dutch
activities and decisions that impact them.
government on their advocacy agenda, as
While our partnerships have thus far focused
well as partnering to strengthen access
largely on holistic care and advocacy for
to mental health care.
reparations, another key area to explore
is transitional justice, where we are • Participating in a consortium with French
developing strategic partnerships with like- partners (Pierre Fabre, IFJD) to expand
minded organisations who possess specific holistic care in CAR. We will evaluate our
knowledge on transitional justice and legal collaboration with our French partners
issues. in CAR at the end of 2021 to determine
the most impactful and effective way
forward.
How and what is needed:
• We will expand and strengthen our
• Continuation with the Friends of Panzi’ strategic partnerships with partners such
group, which collaborated throughout as ICTJ and Redress around our work
2020 to support Panzi Hospital’s related to transitional Justice.
response to the covid-19 pandemic. We
intend to continue this collaboration to
better align and coordinate our global
support to Panzi, both in respect to the Explore possible further cooperation with
pandemic as well as general programme Panzi USA
and advocacy support.
In this three-year period, we will –
• Further investing in our relationship with based on the mission of the Mukwege
the Office of the Special Representative Foundation and from the viewpoint of
of the Secretary-General on Sexual both organizations – further explore
Violence in Conflict, who has played an the potential impacts and advantages
essential role in getting a survivor-centred of increased collaboration with Panzi
approach recognized as good practice Foundation USA. Our Board is currently
and reflected in policy. Our partnership exploring, together with Panzi USA,
became more concrete thanks to the possible alignment around a joint mission
co-organisation of a joint event in 2020 and what that would look like practically.
to commemorate the 20th anniversary
of security council resolution 1325. We We are considering a phased approach in
are keen to continue strengthening this which we would gradually work toward
partnership, especially on transitional more alignment and collaboration. This
justice, and particularly in a few key would be a strategic change to allow us
countries like CAR and DRC. to jointly provide more support to Panzi
DRC, while also broadening our scope for
• Identifying ‘flagship’ countries for advocacy and fundraising opportunities
holistic care, or specific pillars of the worldwide.
model, based on the identified needs and
opportunities and with the ultimate goal
of ensuring a holistic care approach.Continuing support for Panzi’s
work in Congo
Dr. Denis Mukwege and his team at Panzi Hospital in DRC have treated more than 50,000
victims of sexual violence in the last two decades. The impact of their work on individuals, the
region, and the country as a whole inspire us to take these best practices to a global level.
As the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo continues, Panzi Hospital remains a
crucial actor in dealing with the immediate needs of survivors, but also in keeping the problem
of systematic rape in Eastern Congo on the international agenda. The Dr. Denis Mukwege
Foundation will continue to implement joint projects and fundraise for unrestricted support to
Panzi Hospital and Panzi Foundation DRC.
Organisational development
Strengthening the backbone
How & what is needed
In the last 5 years, the Mukwege Foundation In order to accomplish this, the Mukwege
has grown considerably, and moved from Foundation plans to:
being a small start-up organisation, focusing • Update our HR vision and policies,
primarily on advocacy against rape as including developing a more standardised
a weapon of war, to an implementing recruitment process and an onboarding
organisation with its own innovative projects programme for new staff, and include
at an international level, and in (post)- more specific arrangements for
conflict countries around the world. international field staff;
Implementing more and larger projects • Ensure all staff members travelling to
provides both opportunities and challenges the field are properly trained on safety
for the current internal organisation. We and security, and that internal safety
will continue to grow our funding base and and security policies are in place and
staff base and ensure the necessary internal communicated to all staff;
policies and procedures are updated and
upgraded to meet and support the current • Ensure psychosocial support for staff is
organisational ambitions and future size. in place when needed, to further equip
our staff with good self-care practices
We aim to develop a pool of consultants that and prevent the risk of secondary
we will work with on a regular basis to help trauma;
us develop both the internal capacities and
tools as well as help us to implement field • Further automate and professionalise
projects. This pool will give us the flexibility systems for budget control and project
and capacity needed to scale up when management;
needed. • Further train staff on the
implementation of our integrity policy.“ Panzi Hospital
remains a crucial
actor in dealing with
the immediate needs
”
of survivors.Communications
As of 2020, the Mukwege Foundation has Strategy 3: Justice and accountability,
a sizable, engaged audience, as well as a including survivor-centred reparations and
strong and growing relationship with media. redress
We seek to maintain this position as well as - Dissemination of advocacy strategies
expand our reach. We will accomplish this by focused on policy or justice-based
showing the depth and breadth of our work; achievements.
for instance, the numerous, complex, and
sometimes challenging stories of survivors - Dissemination of consistent
that inspire our mission, as well as staff in messaging on survivor-centred transitional
action, and important advocacy. justice.
While we are pleased with the positive and In addition to these initiatives, we
dignified stance portrayed in our current remain committed to clear and efficient
images and identity, we seek to expand our communication about who we are, what
representation to portray the gravity and we do, to amplify survivors’ voices, and
urgency of our mission. We will also seek to to advocate for the prevention of sexual
promote both written and visual depictions violence in conflict and increased access
of our work in places beyond the Great Lakes to holistic care. We will continue to build
region of Africa. our communication mechanisms into a
functional and reliable foundation from
In the completion of the above strategies, which to launch further outreach and
there are complementary communication advocacy campaigns.
aspects:
Strategy 1: Promote access to holistic,
quality care for survivors of sexual violence How & what is needed
worldwide As we move forward with our strategies,
- Project documentation with updates we will contract an external service provider
and visual storytelling. to assure timely, professional completion
and execution of essential communication
- Notes from the field of scoping trips functions. This coordination will assure the
reflecting our work speaking with survivors maintenance of functionality and reliability
and researching opportunities. as our communications work grows and
- Sharing our in-country diversifies.
communications work. From local events To accomplish our communication goals
to radio shows, we will share with the for field activities such as projects and
broader audience, our engagement with local scoping trips, trainings will be undertaken
communities. based on need; in topics such as interviews,
- Wide dissemination and promotion of photography, and videography. Starting
the holistic-care handbook. in 2021, workshops will help staff on
field missions with both their skills and
Strategy 2: Support survivor-led activism for
motivations.
solidarity and recognition, and to end stigma
When a field initiative calls for a stronger
- Profiles of survivors and their activism
communications staff, efforts will be made
at national and international levels.
to hire local talent.
- Work with survivors in country to
accomplish their own communication goals.Methods
News Media Multi-platform Campaigns
The media is a powerful tool to amplify We plan to conduct 2 campaigns per year
survivors’ voices and break the silence to increase awareness on the work of the
surrounding sexual violence in conflict. We Mukwege Foundation and support our
work closely with journalists, advocating for advocacy strategy.
the publication of survivor’s stories and the
We will develop a set of communication
work being done by the Foundation.
materials about our holistic care strategy
In addition to media, we plan to seek out and to better explain what it entails and share
publish academic or industry-level articles project updates. We will also continue to
surrounding the topics most relevant to work closely with the SEMA network to
our work. In 2021, we will update our global communicate its identity and mission with
database of journalists and strengthen our that of the Mukwege Foundation – with
contacts with them and continue pitching all its synergies, relationships, and intrinsic
stories that promote local and fair journalism power.
inspired by survivors.
We will maintain visible links with our trusted
partners that appropriately represent our
mission and will promote one another’s
Social Media
causes.
In the coming 3-year period, we aim to
increase our audience on social media and
focus on new and growing platforms. We New and creative technologies
will continue to encourage broad use of our
In our quest to amplify survivor’s voices,
social media messaging and tools, especially
we will strive to embrace new, bold, and
by survivors.
potentially unexpected methods. We will
We will also remain vigilant towards the encourage survivors’ storytelling and creative
proliferation of misinformation and false advocacy pursuits.
messages by monitoring and staying aware
of inappropriate behaviour, purposeful
misinformation, and improper use of data.
Website
We launched a new website in 2020 and
will continue to build upon it by including a
French translation and expanding content
and video presence. We will continue to
optimize the website’s SEO as well as use
the engagement data to continue to improve
the site.
Email News Updates
We will reliably communicate with
subscribers of our mailing list, featuring
a quarterly Mukwege Foundation News
Update as well as advocacy updates.Fundraising
Foundations and Institutional donors Individual Fundraising
Our successful fundraising over recent years Though not our largest income stream, it is
has allowed the Mukwege Foundation to heart-warming to see how many individuals
steadily expand its activities, substantially support our cause and donate quite
supporting survivors worldwide in concrete spontaneously towards it. The Dr. Denis
ways. Mukwege Foundation has a small but loyal
base of recurring donors who support the
From 2020 onwards, having 3 years of audited
Foundation in a sustainable way. We will
annual accounts, the Mukwege Foundation is
aim to honour the loyalty of our existing
eligible to apply for larger, multi-annual grants
donors and more proactively manage these
from institutional and multi-lateral donors,
individual donor relationships.
including governments, the EU, the UN, and
large foundations. Participating in larger-scale, Data from donors within our CRM, email
more standardised tender procedures allows statistics, and social media outlets will
us to access new opportunities for earmarked continue to be gathered and analysed to
funding. However, competition in these types better inform marketing campaigns in the
of tenders is stiff. We are a niche organisation, future. That data will also, in turn, inform
with a very specific mission and we are aware qualitative data gathering as our support
that this usually does not provide the most base grows.
natural fit with current, more general funding
As this type of funding is unearmarked,
streams of these types of donors.
it is an important means to realise our
Especially when it comes to launching multi- ambitions as it creates the necessary space
annual holistic care programmes (which require for essential work like scoping visits. We
large, multi-annual budgets to be spent in- will therefore aim to increase this income
country) we will need to identify potential through reasonable time and resource
donors and proactively approach them with investments.
assessment-based concept notes rather than
waiting for tender calls.
How & what is needed
In addition to creating and sharing
How & what is needed
informative and engaging content featuring
• We will ensure financial capacity within our work, we will continue to use strategic
our 2021-2023 budgets to enable further campaigns to try expanding our audiences.
country scoping visits;
In 2021, we will invest in communicating our
• We will strategically analyse foreign mission and projects to the individuals who
interests that could be leveraged like follow our work in hopes of encouraging
AFD in former French colonies, and EU deeper engagement. It is important that
cooperation mechanisms to identify our individual donors understand their
funding opportunities; money directly supports survivors; for
example, amidst the COVID crisis, individual
• We will analyse humanitarian funding
donations enabled us to support survivors
opportunities such as country-based
with contributions towards their internet
pooled funds and the Central Emergency
and phone costs, ensuring they could keep in
Response Fund (CERF);
contact and engage in the SEMA network.
• We will increase our skills to design
By investing in a new website and CRM
project proposals based on deeper
system in 2020, we are now in the position
understandings of country contexts, risk
to focus more on improving the engagement
analyses, and wider local partnerships;
of loyal and new donors, and we strive to
• Based on the country strategy documents double the number of individual donors in the
in priority countries, we will develop coming 3-year period.
concept notes and proactively approach
donors based on the analyses above.Governance Conclusion
International Supervisory Board In short, since 2015 the Mukwege Foundation
has made strides in its mission of building a
To better reflect its fast growth and current
global survivor network and rolling out the
global reach, and to ensure more efficient
holistic model of care beyond the borders of
and effective management, the Mukwege
the Democratic Republic of the Congo with
Foundation will adapt its governance
a sustainable, context-driven approach. We
structure. Our current Board will become
plan to expand our current work on holistic
a Supervisory Board, deciding on overall
care, to continue mobilising survivors’ agency,
strategic and policy matters, while the daily
and to promote survivor-centric transitional
management will be formally delegated to our
justice to ensure the needs and demands of
Board that will consist of the 2 Directors. The
survivors are heard. We will conduct multi-year
Supervisory Board will be gender-balanced
engagement through targeted fundraising,
and will consist of people of a variety of
strategic partnerships, clearly outlined project
backgrounds and capacities, e.g. fundraising,
goals and objectives based on survivor input,
financial management, and content- and field
engaging communication of our work, and
experience in humanitarian programmes. Dr.
continued monitoring and evaluation of our
Mukwege will still act as special advisor for
projects with the aim of developing a track-
both the Supervisory Board and the Directors.
record of expertise in varying contexts. We will
continue to grow our structural base to ensure
Participation of survivors we can meet and support our organisational
ambitions.
In the coming 3 years, we will expand and
institutionalise the crucial inputs we receive The Mukwege Foundation is confident that
from survivors in our operations. We will form we are ready for what is ahead, which will
a small group of survivors as a formal advisory include more international work including
group to the Directors and the Supervisory implementation of new projects, as well as
Board. They will be involved in all decision- more on the topic of transitional justice, and
making processes of the organisation, together continuing our path in respect to survivor
with Dr. Mukwege, to ensure the Mukwege activism. We really believe in this approach
Foundation follows a truly survivor-centred and we look forward to continuing this over the
path. next three years.
Covid
We believe that the Covid crisis has allowed us to explore alternative approaches and proven that we
can adapt and be creative. This Strategic Plan is based on the assumption that with the emergence
of a publicly available vaccination, there will be significant improvement in the global situation by
mid-2021. If this were to not be the case, or if a similar context were to emerge in the future, we
remain ready to reconsider this strategic plan and adapt to the circumstances, building on our
renewed capacity for creative approaches to our work.
Contact
For further information, please contact us at:
info@mukwegefoundation.orgYou can also read
