Before adapting a VAWG prevention programme, it is important to conduct research to inform the adapted programme design. This involves understanding the socio-cultural and political context at national, sub-national, and local levels. Look into VAWG data, laws, policies, political will, key actors and existing initiatives. At the local level, it is also critical to have a picture of VAWG prevalence rates, drivers, and risk factors as well as to map the needs and priorities of target groups and the accessibility and quality of VAWG response services. What works in one country and context, may not work in another.

Contextual research provides a foundational understanding of the local culture, norms, and resources needed to ensure the relevance and effectiveness of a VAWG programme. It informs the project design, Theory of Change (ToC) and type of VAWG prevention approaches to prioritise. When conducting contextual research, it is important to involve local communities and target groups, as their unique insights will ensure the VAWG programme is culturally relevant, effectively addresses specific local needs, and increase buy-in. The scope of this research will depend on the programme’s size, resources, timeframe, and existing knowledge of target populations and communities.

Read more about conducting research to inform programme design

Adaptation involves changing the design and/or implementation to fit the local context, while keeping the elements of the original programme that made it successful. Before adapting an EVAWG programme, review evidence of its impact, understand key aspects, and identify what worked and how it could be improved. Effective adaptation needs to consider changes in the language, content, activities and delivery mechanisms to suit the new context and population.

It is important to maintain fidelity to core design elements of the original programme such as the frequency and intensity of interventions ("dosage") - whether with population groups or institutions - to ensure sustained impact. Respect for core principles such as a gender transformative approach, survivor-centred approach and do-no harm is also critical. When adapting specific programme components for the local context, take a participatory approach to ensure contextual relevance, secure support and prevent potential backlash.

When adapting a programme to your context, it is important to engage with the organisation that created the original approach, also known as the programme originator. These organisations bring valuable experience in how to implement programmes, as well as adapt to diverse contexts. Unfortunately, in some cases, originators are not consulted during programme adaptation or scaling, and this can result in misunderstanding of key programme elements and how to implement them effectively. For example, a common error is not implementing interventions with the intensity required to achieve changes in attitudes, behaviours and norms. Originator organisations are often happy to provide guidance and technical assistance, helping to ensure high-quality outcomes and increase the likelihood of reducing violence.

Once a suitable programme to adapt has been identified, it is important to plan carefully. Modifying components, developing new materials and investing in organisational capacity and skilled implementers requires adequate time, budget (flexible funding structures), and resources. Additionally, it is critical to obtain feedback from key stakeholders and technical advisors to ensure programme quality and contextual fit. Mapping VAWG actors can also help improve understanding of key entry points within institutions and systems, identify promising partnerships, and raise awareness of the new programme. When selecting implementing partners for the adapted VAWG programme, it is helpful to use the following questions as a guide to assess organisational capacity:

For more information on selecting implementing partners for adapted VAWG programmes, see pages on Select Implementing Partners and Build Equitable Partnerships with CSOs.

Adapting an EVAWG programme usually takes between 12-18 months to adapt the design, pre-test material and pilot, allowing enough time to identify any challenges before rolling out the programme more widely. The pre-testing and piloting can help you to determine whether the adapted intervention is acceptable to the new community, has maintained fidelity to the core components of the original programme and is able to be implemented effectively and to a high quality.

Pre-testing involves testing specific components of the programme, such as content, training/workshops, staffing, scheduling and logistics. Piloting involves a full implementation of the programme on a smaller scale, perhaps within a compressed timeframe. During these processes it is essential to collect regular feedback, document modifications in real-time, and learn from participants and communities. The pilot stage is also useful for establishing strong partnerships and communication with local stakeholders, which can help improve understanding of local dynamics and any necessary further adaptation. It is also a key time to establish robust monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) systems that can help track results, identify unintended consequences and implement risk mitigation measures.

See these pages for details on how to develop a monitoring and learning plan how to capture and share learning

Even the most well-designed VAWG programmes can be thrown off course by unforeseen events like the COVID-19 pandemic, conflict situations, natural disasters, or humanitarian emergencies. These external shocks can have a profound impact on programme activities and can exacerbate violence against women and girls in target communities. To address emerging challenges, it is important to build the capacity and resilience of relevant actors through technical training and support, as well as fostering a culture of innovation and flexibility that allows programmes to adapt, innovate and pivot to respond to shifting needs and contexts.

Being adaptable means putting women and girls' experiences at the centre of programmes and modifying approaches to reach women and girls. For instance, organisations with access to resources can adapt their methodologies to create online versions and innovate with digital solutions to address the acute needs of women and girls. However, the digital divide is still present across the world, and questions of access, agency, inclusivity, safety and participation in online spaces need to be considered. It is critical for funding to be flexible and made available for grassroots women’s rights organisations to innovate, operate effectively and safely as well as to deliver locally contextualised violence prevention programmes.