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As companies are held accountable for their practices, they also become more transparent about their environmental and social justice commitments through investing in corporate responsibility initiatives, as well as reporting on environmental, social and governance (ESG) and impact metrics to track commitments and actions related to gender equality and VAWG in line with the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs).

The WEPs highlight that businesses are responsible for gender equality across the company and its value chain, the marketplace and broader community. Encouraging Chief Executive…

Ongoing communication is crucial to maintaining a healthy partnership, adapting to changing circumstances and actively managing risks. When designing VAWG programmes that engage with the private sector, it is important to ensure that the programme can flex to a dynamic, rapidly evolving set of risks and opportunities often found in businesses. Being flexible is also important to address constraints faced by private sector partners, such as offering adequate preparation and training to support companies with how to deal with backlash, a rise in complaints, and an increased demand for support…

Workplaces can play a pivotal role in VAWG prevention by engaging men - including managers and ordinary workers - as agents of change, for example through building the capacity of employees on how to report workplace gender-based harassment. Working with companies to develop strong policies and procedures that protect women from violence and share critical information to increase their access to support services is essential to transforming internal practices in the private sector.

Programmes can provide companies with advisory and technical support on legal issues and gender expertise on…

Before partnering with the private sector, it is essential to assess any reputational, ethical, and physical risks. Make sure that partnering aligns with your programme’s goals and objectives, and engage in open and transparent discussions to explore how working together can be mutually beneficial and contribute to shared goals. In addition to the risks, the private sector can also bring potential benefits to increase the impact of a VAWG programme. Companies can bring valuable funds, as well as technical expertise and skills (pro-bono services), strategy and capacity development, materials…

Building trust and forming partnerships with various sectors, including non-traditional players, is crucial for success when working with the private sector. In Mexico, Zimbabwe, and Trinidad and Tobago, Spotlight Initiative recognized this as a key strategy to advance efforts against ending violence against women and girls (EVAWG) and promoting gender equality. To begin, seek to understand the perspectives of local groups and corporate staff in specific country contexts. Assess their awareness of workplace violence against women, the level of support from management for gender equality…

The workplace can be a powerful entry point to address the harmful social norms and behaviours that underpin violence and to promote safe, diverse, and inclusive environments. To build a strong business case to secure buy-in, it is first important to understand why addressing VAWG is important to the private sector. As well as having negative impacts on the health and well-being of individuals and their families, violence can adversely affect business in a number of ways. The business case will vary by organisation and sector, but typically includes reduced productivity, increased staff…

Programmes must ensure that women and girls’ rights are always safeguarded during efforts to engage men and boys. Men and boys' engagement can be transformative but can also lead to backlash against women and girls (programme staff, beneficiaries, activists, and community members).

All programming must conduct a comprehensive risk analysis starting from the design phase and throughout implementation, ensuring that mitigation measures are put in place to minimise these risks and processes are established to support women and girls if they are subjected to violence. The safety of women and…

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…