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Think carefully about who will conduct the contextual analysis. There is great benefit to including members of your programme team in this research, since this increases the likelihood that research is understood and acted upon during design and implementation. Involving local implementing partners in the data collection and analysis can also be useful since they are likely to be well-placed to provide important contextual insights to support programme design and implementation. Consider what is needed to support and train a diverse team with the required skills and local knowledge to conduct…
Key questions to consider when determining the depth and breadth of contextual research required to inform programme design include:
What is the programme scope, size and timeframe?
Is it an existing programme being implemented in a new context, or a new initiative in an existing context, or are both context and programme approach new?
What resources are available for conducting research?
What knowledge already exists about the specific populations and communities the programme is working with?
What data is available?
REMEMBER: Workplans and budgets should dedicate adequate time…
Local WROs and CSOs are in a unique position to lead efforts to end VAWG, given their deep contextual understanding of the needs of communities, the impact of VAWG, and their community networks. Programmes can amplify and strengthen WROs and CSOs by:
Advocating for laws and policies that protect the participation of WROs and CSOs.
Ensuring WROs and CSOs are included in the design, implementation and monitoring of programmes.
Supporting reciprocal learning and capacity strengthening for WROs and CSOs.
Providing flexible, long-term core funding to WROs and CSOs.
Strengthening…
Evidence-based programming to end VAWG requires accurate, quality data that is relevant to the context in which a programme is being implemented. Programmes can help improve the quality, accuracy and availability of data on VAWG by:
Supporting capacity strengthening for national statistics offices
Supporting more accessible presentation of data to inform decision making
Promoting the use of data to guide programme monitoring
Read more in the Data, Evidence and Learning section.
Comprehensive VAWG programming requires providing access to quality, survivor-centred response services to meet the needs of survivors and seek to prevent further violence (secondary prevention). Comprehensive service delivery engages multiple sectors, including:
Medical facilities
Mental health and psychosocial support services
Legal entities
Police
Safe Spaces/ Shelter
Legislative bodies
Social protection and income generating programmes
Education and training institutions such as schools
Community reintegration programmes
It may not always be possible or appropriate to…
Efforts to end VAWG should recognise the importance of primary prevention through addressing the multiple risk factors that drive violence. Programmes should work with communities and institutions to identify and implement contextually-relevant prevention strategies, which might include one or more of the following:
Social norm transformation efforts
Community mobilisation
Healthy relationship initiatives
Economic empowerment programmes
Social empowerment programmes
Political advocacy and legislative change
Programming in formal and informal education settings
Working with men…
Ending VAWG requires commitment from national and regional institutions. Programmes can support efforts to strengthen the commitment and capacity of institutions to end VAWG through:
Providing technical assistance and capacity building on the impact of VAWG and ways to end VAWG.
Supporting the development of fully financed national action plans (NAPs) on ending VAWG.
Promoting gender-responsive ministries and gender-responsive budgeting.
Facilitating linkages and collaboration across institutions working on gender, migration, disability, poverty, ethnicity, age, location, education…
Efforts to end VAWG are often supported by consortia of organisations. When working with multiple organisations, it is important to address the risk of siloed working, to maximise efficiency of resources and capacities, support coordination, streamline operational processes, strengthen partnerships, and establish clear lines of accountability. This can be achieved by:
Utilising existing coordination mechanisms. For example, UN entities working to end VAWG can use the UN Resident Coordinators to facilitate collaboration across different UN entities. This was a key mechanism by Spotlight…
Programmes to end VAWG should recognise the diverse ways that different groups and entities can contribute to these efforts. Programmes should seek to engage multiple stakeholders as partners from across government, civil society, women’s rights organisations, community and traditional leaders, the private sector, academia, the media, and others. This can help to ensure political commitment and buy-in, reduce backlash, increase coordination and collaboration, improve effectiveness, ensure programmes are contextually appropriate, and promote sustainability.
Programmes can support the…
Even the most well-designed VAWG programmes can be thrown off course by unforeseen events like the COVID-19 pandemic, conflict situations, 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, as was the case in many Spotlight Initiative country programmes during COVID-19. It is therefore important to ensure that programmes can adapt, innovate and pivot to respond to shifting needs, including building the capacity and resilience of programme actors to adapt to these…