From March 2015 to February 2016, FSN led a landmark initiative titled “Strengthening Capacities of Female Students to Actively Respond to Cases of Sexual Harassment in Zimbabwe’s Tertiary Education Institutions.” With support from the African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF), the project boldly addressed the silenced epidemic of sexual harassment and gender-based violence (GBV) on Zimbabwe’s campuses.

Key achievements:

• Held public lectures in Harare, Midlands, Masvingo, and Mashonaland Central, directly reaching 400+ students and igniting vital conversations around GBV and student rights.
• Trained 160 Advocacy Team members to respond effectively to cases of sexual harassment and become peer educators and allies within their institutions.
• Developed and piloted a Sexual Harassment Monitoring Mechanism (SHMM) Scorecard, offering students a confidential platform to report GBV cases and track institutional accountability.

The project significantly enhanced students’ understanding of emotional, economic, physical, and psychological violence. Post-intervention evaluations revealed an 11% increase in GBV knowledge levels, greater awareness of legal protections, and improved reporting mechanisms—showcasing the transformative power of student-centered advocacy.

Stakeholders from the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, tertiary institutions, and the Zimbabwe Republic Police’s Victim Friendly Unit lauded FSN’s collaborative approach. While the project faced challenges, it laid the groundwork for deeper systemic change through early engagement, male student inclusion, and a renewed call for campus safety.