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At community level, engaging in participatory dialogues and systematic community mobilisation at each stage of programming can be useful for building community-level support and ownership of efforts to end violence against women and girls.

Investing and working in diverse partnerships with civil society actors, feminist groups, international development actors, faith-based organisations, academia, influencers, private sector actors, politicians and leaders can help sustain impacts beyond the programme timeframe. These actors can continue influencing widespread change and affect social norms…

Embedding programmatic goals into national government initiatives and ensuring programmes support implementation of existing government policies both help to secure buy-in and long-term national commitment. Wherever possible, it is important to anchor ongoing initiatives, strategies and plans to end violence against women and girls with public commitments from policymakers. High-level political commitment by government to the elimination of violence against women and girls can help to institutionalise VAWG efforts and increase the impact and sustainability of VAWG programming. Furthermore…

Some methods to consider include:

Method
Resources
Desk-based research
Involves gathering information from existing data sources to use in analysis.

This often involves using web-based search engines to find relevant existing information from academic and other trusted sources - as well as consulting national or sub-national surveys with data on VAWG prevalence and known risk factors or violence:

Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS);
International Men and Gender Equality Studies (IMAGES);
UN Multi-Country Study on Men and Violence.

Key Informant…

Take a survivor-centred approach: Collecting data on VAWG is highly sensitive. Research can put respondents at risk of re-traumatisation if they are survivors, and of backlash from perpetrators and others. Only conduct data-collection with survivors if there is no other way to gather the necessary information and if the team have the skills needed to take a survivor-centred approach. Team members should be trained to know when and how to escalate disclosures of violence and refer women to available services and sources of support (see page on how to Map Existing VAWG Services).

Ensure…

Think carefully about who will conduct the contextual analysis. There is great benefit to including members of your programme team in this research, since this increases the likelihood that research is understood and acted upon during design and implementation. Involving local implementing partners in the data collection and analysis can also be useful since they are likely to be well-placed to provide important contextual insights to support programme design and implementation. Consider what is needed to support and train a diverse team with the required skills and local knowledge to conduct…

Key questions to consider when determining the depth and breadth of contextual research required to inform programme design include:

What is the programme scope, size and timeframe?
Is it an existing programme being implemented in a new context, or a new initiative in an existing context, or are both context and programme approach new?
What resources are available for conducting research?
What knowledge already exists about the specific populations and communities the programme is working with?
What data is available?
REMEMBER: Workplans and budgets should dedicate adequate time…

Local WROs and CSOs are in a unique position to lead efforts to end VAWG, given their deep contextual understanding of the needs of communities, the impact of VAWG, and their community networks. Programmes can amplify and strengthen WROs and CSOs by:

Advocating for laws and policies that protect the participation of WROs and CSOs.
Ensuring WROs and CSOs are included in the design, implementation and monitoring of programmes.
Supporting reciprocal learning and capacity strengthening for WROs and CSOs.
Providing flexible, long-term core funding to WROs and CSOs.
Strengthening…

Evidence-based programming to end VAWG requires accurate, quality data that is relevant to the context in which a programme is being implemented. Programmes can help improve the quality, accuracy and availability of data on VAWG by:

Supporting capacity strengthening for national statistics offices
Supporting more accessible presentation of data to inform decision making
Promoting the use of data to guide programme monitoring

Read more in the Data, Evidence and Learning section.

Comprehensive VAWG programming requires providing access to quality, survivor-centred response services to meet the needs of survivors and seek to prevent further violence (secondary prevention). Comprehensive service delivery engages multiple sectors, including:

Medical facilities
Mental health and psychosocial support services
Legal entities
Police
Safe Spaces/ Shelter
Legislative bodies
Social protection and income generating programmes
Education and training institutions such as schools
Community reintegration programmes
It may not always be possible or appropriate to…

Efforts to end VAWG should recognise the importance of primary prevention through addressing the multiple risk factors that drive violence. Programmes should work with communities and institutions to identify and implement contextually-relevant prevention strategies, which might include one or more of the following:

Social norm transformation efforts
Community mobilisation
Healthy relationship initiatives
Economic empowerment programmes
Social empowerment programmes
Political advocacy and legislative change
Programming in formal and informal education settings
Working with men…