On 28 March 2023, key stakeholders joined UNFPA to celebrate a handover event for the Call-to-Action initiative to Germany, represented by the German Ambassador to Nigeria, Annett Günther. Attendees present included the ambassadors of Norway, Knut Eiliv Lein and Denmark, Sune Krogstrup, along with the Honorable Ministers of the Federal Ministries of Women Affairs and Justice.  

Globally launched in 2013, the Call to Action (CtA) was initiated to ensure that every humanitarian operation, from the onset, provides safe and comprehensive services for those most at risk of GBV, prioritizing the mitigation, prevention, and response to violence, especially against women and girls. With over 99 partners globally, comprised of states, donors, and both international and non-governmental organizations, the CtA was first piloted in Nigeria in 2018, covering Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe (BAY) states which have endured protracted humanitarian crises and the disparaging implications of the Boko Haram insurgency since 2008. 

Germany emerged as the new global leader of the Call-to-Action (CtA). The initiative, succeeding Denmark in overseeing the 2022-2025 Call-to-Action on Protection from GBV in Emergencies Strategic Roadmap from 1 January 2023 until December 2024. A review of the initiative in 2022 resulted in a renewed vision for the CtA, restructuring its leadership committee into Strategic and Technical Task teams to serve as the CtA’s accountability framework.