By Aminata Abu Bakarr Kamara

The Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs (MoGCA) has hosted a high-level delegation from Namibia for a South-South learning exchange aimed at strengthening the implementation and use of the Gender-Based Violence Information Management System Plus (GBVIMS+).

The exchange is intended to enable Namibia to learn from Sierra Leone’s experience in implementing the system, particularly in managing information on gender-based violence, improving coordination among service providers and strengthening support for survivors.

Speaking on behalf of the visiting delegation, its head commended Sierra Leone for its efforts to advance gender equality, strengthen child protection and improve responses to gender-based violence. She said the visit would provide an opportunity for the Namibian delegation to learn from Sierra Leone’s institutional practices and progress in using GBVIMS+.

The Minister of Gender and Children’s Affairs underscored the importance of cooperation among African countries in developing effective national systems to prevent and respond to gender-based violence.

She explained that GBVIMS+ plays an important role in improving the collection and management of information, facilitating coordination among service providers, supporting case referrals and informing evidence-based decisions. These functions, she noted, can help institutions deliver more effective and coordinated services to survivors.

The Minister also emphasised the need to protect the privacy, safety and dignity of survivors when collecting, storing and sharing information. She stressed that data gathered through the system must be used responsibly to inform policies and interventions without compromising the confidentiality of those affected.

She acknowledged the contributions of the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Social Welfare, United Nations agencies, civil society organisations and development partners to the piloting and implementation of GBVIMS+ in Sierra Leone.

The Rainbo Initiative and the Commit and Act Foundation were among the organisations recognised for their contributions to the process.

The Minister reaffirmed her Ministry’s commitment to strengthening partnerships, promoting accountability and ensuring that interventions addressing gender-based violence remain centred on the needs, rights and well-being of survivors.

She expressed confidence that the learning exchange would deepen cooperation between Sierra Leone and Namibia while providing practical lessons for strengthening prevention and response mechanisms in both countries.

The engagement reflects the importance of South-South cooperation in enabling African countries to share knowledge, institutional experiences and practical approaches to addressing common social challenges.

Through such exchanges, participating countries can identify effective practices, strengthen institutional capacity and improve services for women, girls, children and other vulnerable groups affected by gender-based violence.

The Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs reiterated its commitment to working with national and international partners to promote gender equality, advance child protection and strengthen services for survivors of gender-based violence.

Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on wednesday, 4th November 2026 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)