Stronger and Safer: Reducing the Risks and Consequences of SGBV in Northern Lebanon Heartland Alliance International proposes a 12 month project that reduces the risks and consequences of Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) and improves access to quality services for vulnerable women and girls from the Syrian refugee community and Lebanese host community in the north of Lebanon. The project fills gaps in SGBV response identified by HAI and other protection actors, providing crucial information, case management, legal, mental health, and referral services for survivors and those at-risk of SGBV. HAI will reach 10,860 community members, approximately 94% of whom are women and girls and 6% of whom are men and boys, with information about gender, SGBV, and referral pathways. A total of 850 women and girls will benefit from case management services, direct legal aid and representation, and/or mental health services through support group sessions, one-on-one counseling, or psychiatric care. This project expands two existing women’s safe spaces by creating women's support annexes where women and girls can access these services in a woman and child friendly environment. The project will also reduce risks of SGBV by strengthening peer and community networks to promote positive behavior change.

This project has been designed in coordination with protection actors including the SGBV Task Force to respond to urgent needs in SGBV prevention and response for Syrian and Lebanese women and girls. The project specifically responds to the priorities identified under Window 2 of the Lebanon Humanitarian Fund 2nd Standard Allocation, Category 4: Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV). This project also supports the broader goals and objectives of the Lebanon Crisis Response Plan 2016 (LCRP) and meets Protection Cluster objectives related to SGBV. The project comprehensively addresses the following Protection Cluster objective: The risks and consequences of SGBV are reduced and access to quality services is improved. The project's capacity building activities also address the LCRP's Strategic Objective 2: Strengthen the capacity of national and local service delivery systems to expand access to and quality of basic public services. 

HAI will partner with two key organizations Akkar Network for Development (AND), and the Lebanese Council to Resist Violence Against Woman (LECORVAW). LECORVAW will implement SGBV protection and legal activities in the T5 region, based in Qalamoon, for the area including Tripoli, Kura, Batroun, Dinnyeh, and Minieh.  AND will implement the SGBV case management and protection activities in coastal Akkar, based in Tel Meeyan and active in the coastal area, including Qobet Shurma.  These activities include community outreach and education direct legal, case management and psychological services and operation of activity groups. One women's support annex will be established in each location and managed by these two partners, who are already operating women’s safe spaces.  HAI has vetted and worked with both implementing partners on previous UNICEF-funded programs, and both partners are compliant with all HAI and UN internal accounting controls and reporting procedures.