Femili PNG, in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), is supporting the capacity building of local organizations to provide and improve gender-based violence (GBV) case management services. Femili PNG conducted its first case management training in Kundiawa with an in-depth week-long training to partners, service providers, and civil society organizations (CSOs).
The main objective of the training was to equip participants with professional skills, enhance their knowledge of case management, and allow them to reflect on what they have been practicing to further help in improving case management quality.
Based on previous experiences and challenges working with service providers, The Voice Inc (TVI) – through their legal desk in Kundiawa – coordinated with Femili PNG to determine the specialized needs of case management that needs to come into fruition. The service providers and CSO’s have been practicing case management in addressing GBV and sorcery accusation-related violence (SARV) issues in the province. However, several gaps in the interventions were identified when providing quality and standard case management services to survivors. Another need identified was the absence of a focal point to coordinate cases between and among the service providers for case monitoring and follow-up.
After successfully coordinating with TVI and the UNFPA, Femili PNG steered an initial case management consultation with Simbu province service providers on 9 October 2024. The aim was to gain a deeper insight and understanding of the current case management process, and how to work together to enhance the quality of service provided to the survivors. The outcomes learned from the consultation led to the implementation of the first intensive week-long Basic Case Management Training to the existing service providers in the province.
From Monday 3rd March to Friday 7th March 2025, Femili PNG – with support from the UNFPA through the Korea International Corporation Agency (KOICA) – conducted the training to over 20 participants from service providers, CSOs and government institutions. This included: Family Support Centre (FSC), Family and Sexual Violence Unit, Sexual Offense Squad (SOS), Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Human Rights Defender Movement, Community Development, TVI, Kundiawa Hospital, and Catholic Diocese.
The training covered modules involving client privacy and rights, mandatory reporting, triage, admission, and risk assessment. It later focused on the six different stages of case management: introduction and engagement, intake and assessment, plan of action, implementation of action, follow-up and monitor, and case closure.
Each training day, the participants shared their experiences and challenges in line with the sessions to further understand case management. During one of the reflections, participants shared their thoughts on the stages of case management they had learned.
“As a case officer, I only do referrals and have never done follow-ups with partners to ensure survivors get help. But today I learned something new, and that is to make follow-ups until the survivor gets assisted,” said Gloria Daniel, Case Officer for Family Support Centre (FSC) at Kundiawa Hospital.
Also reflecting on the stages of case management was Marry Kini, “Case management is actually a process, not a shortcut. We have been doing it without tracking a particular case and never closing it. I am thankful to learn the processes of case management.”
Police officers who came from the office of the CID, FSVU, and SOS shared similar sentiments saying a lot of times they focused on perpetrators and forget about the survivors. They emphasized that the training gave them a new perspective to also consider survivors’ needs, and to work in collaboration with other service providers to assist them.
Additionally, many participants appreciated the insights shared on the distinctions between mediation, case coordination, and case conferencing, which provided them with a fresh perspective.
Belinda Kora, from the Human Rights Defenders, said: “We’ve never been fully meeting survivor’s needs through case conferencing. Thank you Femili PNG for instilling the needed skills.” Belinda described case conferencing as a heart of case management.
The intensive one-week training ended on a high note with the presentations of certificates. In his closing remarks, Alois Mau, Police Inspector and Provincial Training Officer, who attended on behalf of the station commander, expressed his gratitude to Femili PNG for sharing comprehensive case management knowledge with service providers in Simbu. He urged participants to utilize the knowledge gained, and to work together to address GBV in the province.
Femili PNG acknowledges the continued support from the KOICA, which has made it possible for partners and service providers in Kundiawa to undergo professional case management training to improve the response to family and sexual violence and SARV.
