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Monitoring questions should be identified at the outset to guide and agree on what information needs to be collected. They should be supported by a description of indicators (to track and measure this information), its data source/method (where the data comes from), who is responsible for capturing this data, the timeframe for it to be captured, and associated costs.

Monitoring questions can include:

Are the proposed activities being implemented as expected? Why or why not?
What VAWG services are provided to whom, when, how often, for how long, and in what context? Health care…

A monitoring plan needs to be guided by the goals and objectives of the VAWG programme, including defining the problem statement/challenge, the risk factors and the type(s) of VAWG being addressed. It needs to align with the overall programme M&E framework which captures the overarching goal, outcomes and outputs of the programme and sets out key information to be collected throughout the programme, together with success metrics and operational benchmarks.

An M&E framework maps out the anticipated relationships between activities, outputs and outcomes, the expected results of the programme…

VAWG programmes aim to shift gender and power inequalities and therefore can lead to negative responses and backlash from community members, men and power holders – such as resistance, controlling behaviours and/or further violence. Most practitioners can identify some form of resistance in their day-to-day experiences of working in this space: institutional inertia, denial of support for feminist work, pushback on “progressive” feminist agendas, attacks on civil society spaces, or even the re-emergence of resistance because of shifting political agendas. Therefore, all programmes should…

When planning M&E, it can be useful to think about how M&E can support decisions about whether to adapt or scale up a VAWG programme. For adaptation, the pilot stage is a key time to establish robust M&E systems that can help track results and fidelity (whether the intervention has maintained fidelity to the core components of the original programme), identify unintended consequences, and if necessary, implement risk mitigation measures or pivot programming. Additionally, process/implementation evaluations can also help programmes to learn about what is working and not working, and identify…

Both routine data and monitoring data collection activities in VAWG programmes are critical opportunities for women and girls to engage in the planning, implementation and analysis stages and to make space for affected populations to have their voices heard. Thus, collecting and/or analysing any information from women and girls about their experiences of violence must be done in a safe and ethical manner to ensure their physical, psychological, and social wellbeing is not put at risk in the process. This ensures that programme development and implementation, advocacy and resource mobilization…

A monitoring plan guides how the intervention will be tracked and examined or assessed overall. It also defines project objectives and assumptions, indicators, data collection methods and activities, and plans for disseminating results including strategies, procedures, resources, partnerships, roles and responsibilities, and schedules.

At the early design stage, an M&E focal point and evaluation team (ideally with experience in VAWG programming) should be appointed and engaged to help with initial thinking on the M&E approach and methodologies. This ensures robust monitoring processes are…

An evaluation approach should be identified early in the programme design phase. This ensures that targets are realistic, partnerships are established, and sufficient budget, time and resources are allocated to match the evaluation’s scope and complexity. It often requires a tailored mix of methodologies, ranging from experimental (e.g. randomized controlled trials), quasi-experimental (e.g. difference in differences), to non-experimental (e.g. pre- and post- studies) approaches, alongside methods like participatory evaluation, most significant change and outcome harvesting. It is also…

An M&E framework is a key guidance tool underpinning an M&E system. There are 7 main steps to take when developing an M&E framework for a VAWG programme:

Conduct formative research/situational analysis to identify issues/challenges and establish the problem statement of the Theory of Change. It can also be useful to map the stakeholders and other programmes and projects.
Develop a Theory of Change (ToC) to outline how and why the desired change is expected to happen in a VAWG programme. A ToC begins with a clear problem statement, identifying the specific issue the programme aims to…

M&E systems and frameworks should follow a set of Guiding Principles to ensure programmes are relevant, useful, timely, credible, and sustainable. These principles may include:

Involving and engaging local partners and stakeholders – in the design of M&E frameworks to appropriately account for the needs and priorities of all actors and stakeholders throughout the process. This participation can take a number of forms, including consultation (seeking input and feedback on programme design and implementation), collaboration (co-designing and co-implementing programmes), partnership (engaging…

M&E needs to be designed at the start of any VAWG programme. When setting programme objectives, consider the scope of all activities that need to be undertaken to track, measure and evaluate progress and its success in achieving the goal. M&E activities will vary based on the type of VAWG approach, for example, the M&E required for a school-based GBV prevention programme would look different to assessing the implementation of a domestic violence policy or legislation. VAWG programmes require robust M&E systems to be in place to assess and understand complex issues such as social norms change…