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As the largest global effort to end VAWG, Spotlight Initiative was uniquely positioned to build a culture of learning and knowledge exchange across countries/regions that could be used to inform effective programming and policies on EVAWG across the globe. Key approaches and learning include:

Developing and implementing a robust Knowledge Management Strategy, which set out Spotlight Initiative's ambition to be an innovation platform for EVAWG, harnessing knowledge, solutions and expertise. Led by the Spotlight Initiative Secretariat at the global level, it outlined the key knowledge…

Spotlight Initiative uses a results-based management approach, which provides a framework to monitor objectives, track and report results, and evaluate the effectiveness of its programmes. Spotlight Initiative generates timely, accurate and reliable data from the Spotlight Initiative Performance Monitoring Framework (SPMF) using the online SMART platform, which helps to ensure that the right decisions are taken at the right time to adapt and improve programming.

All regional and country programmes are required to develop a:

M&E Plan – which describes major monitoring and evaluation…

Spotlight Initiative’s approach to M&E at a global level involves continuous monitoring and evaluation of all programmes by the country teams, which feeds into a central level SMART platform that is used to monitor and collect data on results.

Spotlight Initiative’s monitoring and reporting online tool (SMART platform) allows all programme teams to report qualitative and quantitative data on indicators. This online platform contributes to a more integrated way of reporting by United Nations agencies, strengthens quality assurance and facilitates the consolidation, aggregation and…

In its Technical Guidance Note on the Four Pillars of Spotlight Initiative’s Theory of Change, Spotlight Initiative lays out how to gather sensitive and complex data, stating that this requires: (i) Using reliable, ethically-sound methodologies; (ii) Technical capacity to collect, analyse, use and disseminate VAWG and harmful practice prevalence data; and (iii) Considerable financial and human investments. Key approaches and learning about how to achieve this include:

Follow key global and local ethical guidelines for VAWG data collection. All Spotlight Initiative programmes follow ethical…

All Spotlight Initiative programmes were expected to conduct mid-term evaluations as well as final evaluations. In addition a number of global level and thematic assessments were conducted to identify learning and impact. Key approaches and learning included: 

Conducting mid-term assessments to promote lesson learning within programmes. Programmes were expected to conduct Mid-Term Assessments while a programme was ongoing. This was to support programmes to identify opportunities for improvement, consider lessons learned, and develop recommendations to inform the development of the next…

Spotlight Initiative uses a tailored monitoring and reporting online tool (SMART platform), which allows all Spotlight Initiative programme teams to report qualitative and quantitative data on indicators and sub-indicators. Key approaches and learning on designing indicators include:

Ensuring disaggregated reporting against indicators: Spotlight Initiative has aimed to ensure data disaggregation and reporting by income, sex, age, ethnicity, disability and geographic location at a minimum. Data disaggregation has also been pursued for other characteristics relevant in national contexts over…

Grounded in the recognition of women and girls as rights holders and change-makers in their communities, Spotlight Initiative is committed to implementing a participatory approach to programming, including in its monitoring, evaluation and reporting activities. Spotlight Initiative programmes have implemented participatory monitoring and evaluation (PME) in different ways.

Key approaches and learning include:

Engaging rights holders in monitoring work: Members of WROs, CSOs and direct beneficiaries were engaged to collect and analyse monitoring data on the progress of various projects…

Spotlight Initiative Pillar 5 (Data) focuses on improving data on VAWG. Key approaches and learning from this work include:

Establishing and strengthening national databases to track the prevalence of different forms of violence and harmful practices in line with global standards: Spotlight Initiative has also focused on producing validated and comparable VAWG data, in line with international standards. As part of this, Spotlight Initiative aims to improve data disaggregation by income, sex, age, ethnicity, disability and geographic location at a minimum, as part of its Leave No One Behind…

Improving the understanding, consolidation and use of VAWG data is a key element of Spotlight Initiative under Pillar 5 (Data), which focuses on improving the quality, accuracy, availability and application of VAWG data. Key approaches and learning include:

Undertaking mappings of existing VAWG data collection and management systems: In some countries, Spotlight Initiative programmes have undertaken an assessment of existing VAWG data and data management systems to identify good practices and gaps in order to provide guidance on how to understand, use and improve data for women and girls…