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Strengthening the capacity of local partners to use and collect data to inform the development of laws, policies and programmes, as well as track progress and advocate for change, is important for effectively addressing VAWG. Take the time to build data literacy by explaining how to interpret trends and any limitations. For example, an increase in reported incidents of violence against women and girls could indicate several things. Firstly, it might reflect an actual rise in the number of incidents occurring (prevalence). However, it could also suggest improved awareness of and/or confidence…
There are multiple sources of VAWG data and it can sometimes be difficult to judge the accuracy and reliability of different data sets and their interpretation. It is important to analyse or seek advice on data collection methodologies used in studies, to be aware of potential biases and problems. Be aware that various sources and forms of data on VAWG might not capture the full scope of the issue, due to factors such as underreporting, cultural stigma, or lack of comprehensive data collection methods. Different sources might have biases or limitations depending on their methodology…
High-quality data on violence against women and girls is crucial for understanding the types, patterns, causes and consequences of VAWG and designing effective programmes and policies. Using both quantitative data (numbers and statistics) and qualitative data (personal stories and experience) is important to understand the scale, trends and experiences of those affected by violence, as well as the impacts of different interventions. These sources generally use rigorous collection and analysis methods, are regularly updated, and often undergo peer review.
Prevalence data: Several countries…
Spotlight Initiative in Malawi engaged in an innovative practice by including the perspectives and experiences of communities and rights holders into the design and implementation of the programme’s Midterm Review.
Through focus groups discussions, key informant interviews and one anonymous survey, this inclusive process had two main objectives: to check whether women and girls and other stakeholders felt the programme was relevant and sustainable, and to assess what was and was not working (and why) so that the Malawi Spotlight Initiative team could recalibrate programming.
As a result…
Spotlight Initiative in Malawi developed the Kuwala Knowledge Management Platform, which facilitates information sharing, knowledge exchange and cooperation at technical and analytical levels on issues related to gender equality and violence against women and girls that have emerged from programme implementation.
One key feature of the platform is its ability to visualise month-to-month trends in violence, broken down by region and types of cases reported. This allows users to identify trends over time and spot increases, investigate the reasons behind the increase, and get resources to the…
The Spotlight Initiative Secretariat has also played a pivotal role in fostering cross-regional and intraregional knowledge exchanges by organising in person convenings.
The Global Learning Symposium (GLS), which took place in Mexico in 2022, drew over 200 participants from the United Nations, government, civil society and other stakeholders, and aimed to consolidate the gains made over the past five years of the Initiative. A total of 45 plenary and thematic sessions were organised, providing a space for deep reflection and sharing of results, lessons learned and best practices across…
In March 2022, Spotlight Initiative, through a partnership with the UN Trust Fund, created a multi-stakeholder online hub for global exchange called SHINE. SHINE Hub operates as a combined knowledge hub, community of practice and advocacy hub, and is the first online knowledge exchange hub that brings together government, civil society, the United Nations, the European Union and other practitioners for active engagement to end violence against women and girls, and in the co-creation of knowledge.
The platform is accessible in more than 50 languages. It supports the creation, collaboration…
The Kyrgyzstan Programme set up a Participatory Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting (P-MER) function, a joint monitoring mission to Osh and Naryn regions in April 2022 with a group consisting of 13 representatives from key ministries and departments of the Government of Kyrgyz Republic, including the Office of the President, 8 Civil Society National Reference Group members, 14 representatives of the UN implementing agencies of Spotlight Initiative and the Programme Coordination Unit (PCU) and four media representatives. All members of the team came together to agree on a common vision, plan…
In 2020, the Count Me In! Consortium and members of Civil Society Reference Groups (CSRGs) collectively developed a Civil Society Monitoring Toolkit. The Civil Society Reference Groups were established by Spotlight Initiative, engaging diverse women’s rights and feminist activists, subject-matter experts and marginalised groups from local to global levels advising on and monitoring the implementation of Spotlight Initiative’s programming, recommending changes, and holding Spotlight Initiative accountable for its commitments. Through independent monitoring and reporting, CSRGs are critical to…
Participatory monitoring ensures a needs-driven approach that adapts as new needs arise, enabling programmes to help identify appropriate interventions to meet the specific needs of survivors and civil society organisations.
Spotlight Initiative in Belize embraced a collaborative approach with civil society partners throughout the programming cycle, including in monitoring and reporting processes. Through community-based dialogues with implementing partners and beneficiaries, stakeholder consultations, and programmatic visits, the voices of civil society partners were meaningfully reflected…