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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…

Spotlight Initiative has engaged in programme scale-up through a variety of methods:

Scaling up training to ensure it reaches more stakeholders. For example, in Uganda in 2021, Spotlight Initiative scaled-up training on gender-responsive budgeting to ensure it could reach more government officials. As a result, the initiative expanded from national to sub-national levels.
Extending the reach of VAWG prevention approaches by implementing them with additional components. For example, in 2021, Spotlight Initiative in Uganda applied the SASA! approach in refugee settlements to raise awareness…

Spotlight Initiative was designed to shift from isolated, project-based efforts to a comprehensive well-funded approach for addressing VAWG, which is aligned with national development priorities and works to accelerate progress to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

It also marks a significant step in UN reform, using a whole-system 'One UN' approach that leverages coordinated and coherent funding and places women and girls at the centre of its efforts.

As one of the first large-scale initiatives focused solely on eliminating VAWG, Spotlight Initiative serves as a demonstration…

Plan for sustainability from the onset: Spotlight Initiative programmes considered the sustainability of interventions from the onset. Key approaches have included: ensure high-level engagement of government throughout implementation; support key national level interventions such as national action plans, advocacy for GBV budgets, capacity development of national institutions, and meaningful engagement of civil society at all levels.

Sharing lessons on sustainability: To sustain Spotlight Initiative’s momentum and results, the Secretariat has been sharing lessons and promising practices of…

There are several key principles which have guided Spotlight Initiative's approach to research on VAWG:

Ensure ethical data collection. The safety of women and girl participants should always be prioritised. This requires anonymising data, ensuring secure data storage, developing strong data-sharing protocols, and ensuring all those involved in the data collection, processing and dissemination process are trained on ethical research principles and survivor-centred approaches to research.
Use action-oriented feminist research approaches. This means that research should: focus on the…

A comprehensive theory of change: At the onset, Spotlight Initiative identified four key outcome areas that programming should work to strengthen in order to comprehensively address the root causes, drivers and consequences of VAWG:

A) Laws, policies and institutions (including data collection)
B) Prevention (including social norms change and women's economic empowerment)
C) Response (services for survivors and accountability of perpetrators)
D) Support to and partnership with women’s movements.

This theory of change provides a framework for stakeholders to select and adapt…

Spotlight Initiative has provided a range of mobile and remote services across contexts. As a result of Covid-19, it increased the number of remote services provided across its programming, applying lessons learned from across contexts to strengthen delivery and innovation. Key approaches and learning include:

Provide support through mobile clinics offering multiple services to all women and girls. Spotlight Initiative programmes have funded clinics open to all women and girls, not only survivors, in Mozambique, Niger, Haiti and Belize. These have offered coordinated sexual and reproductive…

Spotlight Initiative takes a coordinated approach to supporting the reintegration of survivors, recognising the need for multiple, complementary interventions. Key approaches and learning include:

Addressing economic, social and psychological needs: For example, as happened in Malawi, Spotlight Initiative ensured that livelihood and financial support programmes are complemented by the establishment of survivor support groups and advocacy efforts within the communities to which survivors are returning or joining. 
Working with community members and survivors through the establishment of…

Spotlight Initiative has prioritised the provision of mental health and psychosocial support in both its prevention and response work. Key approaches and learning include:

Producing technical guidance on how to mainstream MHPSS into programme and service design and delivery. This seeks to apply the latest evidence and learning on MHPSS into prevention work, as well as quality response services.
Ensuring MHPSS needs assessments inform capacity building and programming. By conducting a needs assessment, the information collected can provide a profound understanding of the struggles with…