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Schools and other educational institutions provide a platform for reaching and influencing large numbers of children and their families. Behaviour change initiatives at school-age are important for supporting boys to grow up with an understanding of the impact and consequences of VAWG, non-violent coping mechanisms for conflict-resolution and dealing with difficult emotions, and with values that respect women and girls.

In Nigeria, Spotlight Initiative trained school principals, teachers and school counsellors on how to become champions of gender equality to end GBV within their schools…

Efforts to engage men and boys in violence prevention programming must recognise that men and boys are not a homogenous group. Men and boys from different backgrounds will have different amounts of power in different contexts and may themselves be subjected to violence from other men. Some men may already challenge social norms in their own lives, while others may be incentivised to reinforce existing social norms. In addition, women and girls are not a homogenous group and may have different amounts of power in different contexts.

Recognising the potential for variable power relations…

In order to work effectively with men and boys to prevent violence, it is important to understand which risk factors are most prominent in the context. Whilst gender-inequitable attitudes and norms tend to drive violence in many contexts, some risk factors are more context specific e.g. alcohol abuse, low education, poverty, un- or under-employment, living in neighbourhoods with high crime rates, gang violence, weapons availability, or living under political oppression. Programmes can achieve this by:

Conducting a risk analysis to understand the drivers and risk factors associated with men…

Concepts of masculinity are fluid and differ between locations. Efforts to engage men and boys in VAWG prevention must be relevant to the context. Rather than focusing on predetermined definitions of “masculinity”, programmes should provide space for men and boys, women and girls, to reflect on local understandings and often conflicting ideals of masculinity and manhood, femininity and womanhood and how they relate to social expectations of men and women. Self and collective reflection is key to transforming social norms and influencing broader social change.

Efforts to engage men and boys as allies in the pursuit of gender equality and ending VAWG must be shaped by and accountable to women’s rights organisations and movements. Without this, programming to engage men and boys may reinforce harmful gender stereotypes and social norms and contradict or undermine the efforts of women’s rights movements. Efforts to engage men and boys should promote women’s leadership, protect women-only spaces, and implement checks and balances to prevent these programmes becoming male-dominated or losing focus on the rights of women and girls. This can be done…

In equitable partnerships, organisations with greater influence and power play a crucial role in supporting the goals of their partner(s). When partnering with smaller organisations, it is important to engage in conversations to understand their objectives and where they would value support. By identifying areas where the larger organisation can leverage its power and influence, it can provide meaningful support and help the smaller CSOs and WROs to achieve their goals. Remember that different CSOs and WROs may have distinct goals and needs, so try not to pre-empt what support they might want…

CSOs, particularly smaller organisations and WROs, consistently express the need for core funding, flexible funding and flexible reporting arrangements that allow them to respond to changing realities on the ground. Speak with the CSOs you are partnering with to understand what they need to partner effectively. Work with them to develop compliance arrangements that are not burdensome and can accommodate change and adaptability. Ensure CSOs and WROs also have access to the core funding needed to fulfil these requirements. Read more on working with WROs.

Co-creation is a key element of equitable partnerships, not just at the design stage but throughout implementation, learning, as well as sustainability planning. Remember that unequal power dynamics will remain despite efforts to reduce them and so, processes to check these need to be ongoing and responsive. Consider developing regular feedback mechanisms - and perhaps mediation sessions - that allow partners to voice challenges they are facing within the partnership. In order for these mechanisms to be effective, partners must trust that these challenges will be heard without risk of backlash…

Once a partnership has begun, partners must be careful to ensure unequal power dynamics do not undermine the equitable ways of working that the partnership aspires to. For example, partners should collectively develop equitable decision-making processes, considering who will and will not be represented when decisions are made and why; how decisions will be made; and how information will be shared. It is also important to develop an agreed process to deal with conflicts and disagreements. This all relies on developing shared values and taking time at the start to build trust that the differing…

Programmes should develop governance mechanisms that include CSO and WRO representatives at all levels. CSOs and WROs with knowledge of the local context and experience of VAWG programming are well placed to inform programme design, implementation and monitoring. Their engagement in programme governance will also support effective programme development and implementation and ensure that programmes remain accountable to communities. It is essential that the power dynamics between CSO and WRO representatives and other individuals within programme governance bodies are identified, acknowledged…