The Agro Climatic Resilience in Semi Arid Landscape Project,ACReSAL, has commenced the revalidation of Sexual Assault Referral centres,SARCs, across four (4) local government areas of plateau state to strengthen response to gender -based violence and support survivors.

The exercise targets 50 SARCs in Jos North, Jos South,Mangu,and Pankshin LGA.

Speaking during the flag off in Jos North on Tuesday, the plateau state ACReSAL project coordinator represented by the Social Livelihood officer, Geoffrey Dashihat said the revalidation is part of ACReSAL’s Social safeguard component aimed at protecting the vulnerable groups in project communities.

While ACReSAL focuses on restoring degraded lands and building climate resilience,we recognise that social risks such as GBV increase during the project implementation , especially with the influx of workers and economic activities Dashihat said. ” So this revalidation ensures our referral centres are functional, equipped and ready to provide timely medical psychosocial and legal support to survivors”.