Programme Design and Implementation

Key steps
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Effective VAWG programmes which achieve positive impacts on programme participants, stakeholders and partners depend on good design, high-quality implementation and strong programme governance and management.

In this section, you can find tips, lessons and examples on how to ensure your programme is designed and implemented well, learning from the experience of Spotlight Initiative and the wider sector. You can take our guided journey through these pages and resources using the interactive carousel below or click on a 'key steps' menu link to read in detail about key steps to ensure your programme is comprehensive, evidence-based, appropriate for the context, realistic, and inclusive of key stakeholders, especially vulnerable and marginalised groups.

Guided Journey

Plan a comprehensive VAWG programme

Step 1
Why invest in programming to end VAWG?
Step 2
Why and how to adopt a comprehensive approach?
Step 3
How will you ensure effective interagency working?
Step 4
What do you need to know to design a programme?
Step 5
What will your programme strategy be?
Step 6
Who will you partner with, why and how?
Step 7
Will you adapt an intervention to your context?
Step 8
Would you like to scale up an intervention?
Step 9
How will you ensure your programme is survivor-centred?
Step 10
How will you include marginalised groups?
Step 11
How will you ensure quality implementation?
Step 12
How will you monitor and measure change?
Step 13
How will you ensure programme oversight?
Step 14
How will you identify and respond to any backlash?
Step 15
How will you ensure sustainability?
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Journey progress
Spotlight Initiative

Approach to programme design and implementation

Spotlight Initiative works hard to develop and sustain inclusive and effective programme design, implementation, and governance arrangements. For example: 

  • Programmes have a comprehensive design and theory of change addressing the holistic nature of violence against women and girls and a common results framework. 
  • Programme designs are informed by contextual research to ensure that an appropriate programme strategy is selected, and programmes are adapted to context and changing circumstances.
  • Programmes ensure a whole-of-society, whole-of-government approach, including at the highest levels, to support eventual scale up.
  • Multiple stakeholders are engaged as partners in programme design, e.g. local communities, duty bearers, women’s movements, CSOs and national governments.
  • Programmes align to the UN Reform principles, and pooled funding mechanisms, under the leadership and accountability of a UN Resident Coordinator in line with 'One UN' approaches. 
  • Programmes have a central, meaningful role for Civil Society, supported by significant investments, as well as community coordination and accountability mechanisms with meaningful authority and voice. 
  • All programme design and implementation processes are based on a survivor-centred approach and consider how to reach and include marginalised groups.  
  • All programmes have an implementation plan, monitoring and evaluation framework, communication and knowledge management strategy and a partner capacity development strategy.  
  • Robust programme governance and accountability mechanisms are established at local, national and regional levels.
  • Sustainability plans are developed for all programmes.