What will your programme strategy be?

Develop your programme strategy

Develop your programme strategy

A programme strategy on violence against women and girls (VAWG) should be developed early in the design phase and set out the key programme approaches that will be adopted and how specific interventions and activities will be designed, implemented and evaluated. It is not always necessary or appropriate to design a new programme from scratch if there are options to build on your organisation's or partners' existing work to strengthen, expand, adapt or scale programming in your context. A robust programme strategy builds on the following key elements:

  • A contextual situational analysis including assessment of existing data, risk and protective factors and/or triggers of violence.
  • A review of global evidence on EVAWG strategies and approaches that have been effective in other/similar contexts.
  • Identification and engagement with key stakeholders.
  • An assessment of the programme scope that is appropriate and feasible given the time and budget available.
  • An analysis of the technical capacity, expertise, time, and human and financial resources required to achieve transformative impact.

This page contains general guidance on developing an overall programme strategy. To look at strategy development in specific areas, click on the links below to go to other sections and guided journeys:

Guiding Principles
  • Survivor-Centred Approach
  • Do no harm approach
  • Leave No One Behind, Equity and Non-Discrimination
Spotlight Initiative

Approach and Learning

Key learning from Spotlight Initiative’s approaches to programme strategy development include:

  • The importance of conducting contextual research to inform the programme strategy: All Spotlight Initiative programmes were advised to conduct baseline studies to inform their monitoring framework / results reporting in the inception phase. In addition, Spotlight Initiative programmes in several countries and regions conducted additional research using various research methods to better understand the drivers of specific forms of violence, the national and specific local contexts, the existing responses of different stakeholders, and the availability of response services. Read more on how to conduct contextual research.
  • Multi-stakeholder consultative process as part of programme strategy development: The development of all Spotlight Initiative programme documents was done through a consultative process with various stakeholders from government, civil society, UN agencies, the donor (EU), private sector, religious and traditional leaders, communities and groups of marginalised women and girls. Engagement modalities included virtual and in-person consultations with civil society representatives, regional technical meetings with key stakeholders and experts, the design of regional investment plans, virtual country dialogues, and workshops with national stakeholders. This process was accompanied by an interim Civil Society Reference Group (CSRG) which advised on the context, programmatic approach and ensuring the programme’s alignment to key principles.
  • Linking the strategy to national strategies and international frameworks: Spotlight Initiative programmes developed programme strategies to align as far as possible with existing national strategies and policies on ending VAWG as well as normative global and regional international frameworks. This was key to building national ownership and supporting sustainability.
  • Ensuring the strategy aligns with key programme guiding principles: Spotlight Initiative programmes developed programme strategies to align with the central principles of the Spotlight Initiative approach including a human-rights-based and survivor-centred approach and Leave No One Behind.
  • Establishing a clear shared vision and set of objectives: The more successful strategies were developed in a participatory way with key stakeholders, defined and agreed on a clear, shared vision and set of objectives.
  • Ensuring roles, responsibilities and mechanisms of accountability are clear: Strategies specified which particular actors were responsible for coordinating, delivering and monitoring the implementation of different parts of the overall programme strategy at national level and community levels. This included governance mechanisms such as Steering Committees to accompany and guide the Strategy.
  • Thinking early about sustainability: Spotlight Initiative encouraged every country and regional programme to think about programme sustainability from the outset. Over time, a sustainability strategy was developed for each programme outlining the key steps and conditions required for all key stakeholders to support the longer-term consolidation, maintenance, and scaling of efforts to end violence against women and girls. Read more about how to improve programme sustainability.

Top Tips

How to develop your programme strategy - top tips based on wider learning in the sector.

Click a tip for more information.
Undertake a context / situation analysis
Review evidence on approaches that successfully addressed VAWG
Analyse what other organisations are doing and planning in your context
Consider different strategic options from innovation to scale
Consider costs, time, capacities, delivery mechanisms and partnerships
Embed principles around safe, ethical programming
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