Evidence

What are key considerations when using qualitative methods with EVAW programs? 

In qualitative M&E, you need to think through the benefits and what is required to use these methods effectively and safely.  The benefits of using qualitative methods Whether experimental, quasi experimental or non-experimental you can incorporate qualitative approaches into your [...]

What are my options with qualitative methods? 

There are a number of established qualitative methods which you can include in any evaluation design, however large or small. Examples of qualitative methods [...]

What evaluation points do I factor into my programme’s timeline?  

It is important that you are realistic about the types of change it is possible to achieve within particular timeframes. You will need to discuss this with your funders and evaluators so you all have an agreed understanding of likely timeframes for change.  There is no point seeking to capture [...]

Which monitoring approaches enable deeper learning?

Outcome Mapping (OM) and Most Significant Change (MSC) are two established qualitative approaches which can be used to track progress and provide a more in-depth understanding of what you are/are not achieving while your program is being delivered. They both need adequate resourcing and planning [...]

What should I know about using prevalence indicators? 

Using quantitative prevalence indicators to determine whether or not a program has reduced levels of VAW is essentially the ultimate aim for VAW prevention programs. However, using them requires specific skills and resources.  If you are considering using prevalence indicators, keep in mind the [...]

Exploring academic collaboration

If you are in a position to consider collaboration with an academic team, it is important to keep in mind that research partners can often bring in their own resources for an impact evaluation – or may work with you to jointly raise funds from sources which are ringfenced for research. When [...]

Getting support to inform your M&E approach

Thinking through M&E approaches and identifying the right evaluation partnerships can be daunting if this is not something you regularly do. Even experienced Program Managers can find it challenging to develop program M&E and weigh up different options alongside their wider role in program [...]

What types of evidence can be collected through M&E? 

Monitoring and evaluation can both be conducted using quantitative or qualitative methods – or through a combination of the two. Given the complementary benefits of both approaches, a mixed method approach is likely to be most effective.   Quantitative M&E: Generates and analyses [...]

Pre-testing and Piloting

Pre-testing and Piloting It is important to ‘pre-test’ or ‘pilot’ your programme plans, including everything from the content and staffing to scheduling and logistics. This can result in important improvements to the programme, ensure they are appropriate to the specific context and target [...]

Adapting curriculum-based programmes: 5 steps

1. Select curriculum to adapt: You need to consider evidence of effectiveness, whether the content and goals (e.g. in terms of attitude and behaviour change) are aligned to your context and population, whether the methods are appropriate, feasible in terms of participant availability and [...]

Transformed attitudes, beliefs, and norms

Objective of Strategy: Promote positive attitudes, beliefs, and norms that promote gender equality, challenge male power and privilege, discrimination and female subordination and condemn violence against women (VAW). Evidence of [...]

Child and Adolescent Abuse Prevented

Objective of Strategy: Establish nurturing family relationships, prohibit corporal punishment, reduce harsh parenting practices and create positive parent-child relationships.  Evidence of [...]

Environments Made Safe

Objective of Strategy: To create safe environments, including schools, workplaces and other public spaces, where women are free from the threat of violence and harassment Evidence of [...]

Poverty Reduced

Objective of Strategy: Alleviate poverty through interventions targeted at women or the household, including cash transfers, savings, microfinance loans, and labour force interventions. Evidence of [...]

Services Ensured

Objective of Strategy: Meet the needs of survivors of violence against women (VAW) and seek to prevent further violence through the provision of essential services, including police, legal, health and social services (NB This is NOT in itself prevention work but a complement to prevention) Evidence [...]

Empowerment of women

Objective of Strategy: Facilitate economic, social, psychological and political empowerment of women and girls to promote women’s economic independence, improve relationships and promote equitable gender power relations within households, communities and society.  Evidence of [...]

Relationship Skills Strengthened

Objective of Strategy: Improve men’s, women’s, and couple’s skills in interpersonal communication, conflict management, and shared decision-making. Evidence of [...]

Evidence-based prevention strategies 

The RESPECT seven strategies for VAW prevention The RESPECT framework was launched in 2019 and highlights seven strategies for the prevention of violence against women (VAW): There is a complete implementation guide for RESPECT, which includes strategy summaries, examples of promising programmes [...]

What evidence do I need to understand about my context

It is critical to understand the context in which your prevention programme will be developed and implemented – including the national institutional context, your own organisational context and the specific local context / sites where you intend to implement your programme. Following are the [...]

How prevention links to response

Programmes to prevent violence against women and children can also be distinguished as Prevention, Mitigation, [...]

Design indicators to measure change

The indicators you identify need to be relevant and achievable given the specific objectives and interventions of your VAW prevention programme. Using indicators that do not precisely focus on the types of change your programme is designed to achieve will lead to wasted resources and findings that [...]

Understand the role of a Theory of Change in M&E

Your programme Theory of Change (ToC) provides a solid base for your M&E approach. A well-developed ToC should spell out the changes you are intending your programme to contribute to and the ways in which you think your programme will achieve this. Although it is important to remain open to [...]

Make initial decisions about my M&E approach

M&E needs to be discussed at the start: The initial stage of the design phase is the best time to decide on your M&E approach. This means that you will have time to secure sufficient budgets in your negotiations with funders, form the right partnerships and factor in realistic timeframes. [...]

What is Monitoring and Evaluation?

Monitoring involves collecting and analysing information about a programme to track its progress while it is being delivered. Monitoring data supports ‘real-time’ management decisions to adapt and strengthen a programme to maximise effectiveness. Monitoring is an ongoing process that [...]

Select and contract implementing partners

For many Prevention programmes, organizations will wish to select partners to deliver the programme or programme components. This might include partnering with NGOs or CSOs, not for profit organisations, research institutes, and government ministries and [...]

Understand factors affecting implementation quality

Lessons learned from prevention programming indicate that the quality of implementation is a key factor which determines whether programmes are effective in reducing violence against women or the risk factors for VAW. Using an evidence-based programme model is not enough. Even well-designed [...]

Envision change / develop a theory of change

A theory of change (TOC) lays out the pathways through which we expect a set of strategies and activities to create change. There is no one way to produce a TOC, but it is recommended to employ a step-by-step participatory methodology with key stakeholders to ensure everyone can contribute and [...]

Understand key elements of successful programmes

Based on existing evidence, the following elements are key to whether programmes are effective in reducing VAW or risk factors for [...]

Adapt an evidence-based programme to my context

When you apply a prevention approach or model that has been successful elsewhere, it is essential to adapt that programme to suit your specific context and target population(s). Adaptation involves changing the design and/or implementation of that approach/model to be appropriate for your context [...]

Estimate costs for a prevention programme

The UK-funded What Works programme developed a methodology to cost prevention programs. The key cost elements are summarised in the table below and supplemented by practitioner feedback. You can use this to start to calculate possible costs in you [...]

Understand prevention

Prevention of violence against women and girls has threefold functions – namely Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary [...]