Evidence HubWhat Works Resources
Violence against women and girls (VAWG) is a global problem with profound consequences. Although there is a growing body of evidence on the effectiveness of VAWG prevention interventions, economic data are scarce. We carried out a cross-country study to examine the costs of VAWG prevention interventions in low- and middle-income countries. We collected primary cost data on six different pilot VAWG prevention interventions in six countries: Ghana, Kenya, Pakistan, Rwanda, South Africa and Zambia.
Sergio Torres-Rueda, Giulia Ferrari, Stacey Orangi, Regis Hitimana, Emmanuelle Daviaud, Theresa Tawiah, Rebecca Kyerewaa Dwommoh Prah, Rozina Karmaliani, Eleonah Kapapa, Edwine Barasa, Rachel Jewkes and Anna Vassall
This brief synthesises knowledge gathered on the impact of age on prevalence of intimate partner violence (IPV) and the effectiveness of IPV prevention in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) in seven interventions evaluated under the What Works to Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls Global Programme. The extent to which young women comprise a population more at risk of IPV, compared with older women, varies by geographical location and type of IPV. It is also likely that women and girls from different age groups respond to IPV prevention interventions in different ways; this may also vary according to geographical location, type of IPV, and intervention type. Nevertheless, the analysis presented in this brief suggests that young women are at greater risk of physical IPV than older women. Although younger women also appear to have experienced greater reductions in sexual and economic IPV than older women as a result of What Works interventions, there is no evidence to suggest that older women cannot, or do not, benefit from IPV prevention interventions.
Laura K. Murray, Jeremy C. KaneID, Nancy Glass, Stephanie Skavenski van Wyk Flor Melendez, Ravi Paul, Carla Kmett Danielson, Sarah M. Murray, John Mayeya, Francis Simenda, Paul Bolton
Gibbs A, Dunkle K, Mhlongo S, Chirwa, E., Hatcher, A., Christofides, C, Jewkes. Which men change in intimate partner violence prevention interventions? A trajectory analysis in Rwanda and South Africa. BMJ Global Health 2020;5:e002199. doi:10.1136/bmjgh-2019-002199
Rachel Jewkes, Andrew Gibbs, Esnat Chirwa & Kristin Dunkle (2020) What can we learn from studying control arms of randomised VAW prevention intervention evaluations: reflections on expected measurement error, meaningful change and the utility of RCTs, Global Health Action, 13:1, 1748401
Gibbs, A., Dunkle, K., & Jewkes, R. The prevalence, patterning and associations with depressive symptoms and self-rated health of emotional and economic intimate partner violence: a three-country population based study.
Sangeeta Chatterji, Erin Stern, Kristin Dunkle, Lori Heise
There is considerable interest in community organising and activism as a strategy to shift patriarchal gender norms, attitudes and beliefs and thus reduce intimate partner violence (IPV). Yet there is limited insight into how activism actually translates into reduced violence, including how aspects of programme implementation or cultural context may affect impact. This study evaluates the community activism/mobilisation portion of Indashyikirwa, a multi-component, IPV prevention programme implemented in rural Rwanda. The activism part of Indashyikirwa was based on SASA!, a promising program model from Uganda with demonstrated effectiveness.
What Works to Prevent VAWG: Research and Innovation Programme - Final Performance Evaluation
Additional Info
- VAWG themes VAWG & Economic Empowerment
In 2013, the UK Government’s investment of £25,420,000 in the Prevention of Violence Against Women and Girls: Research and Innovation Fund (WW-VAWG), solidified HMG’s commitment to prevention of, and bringing an end to, Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG). It set the bar for donor engagement and marked the UK as a brand-leader in the field.
What Works to Prevent VAWG: Research and Innovation Programme - Thematic Paper 1: Research
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- VAWG themes VAWG & Economic Empowerment
This thematic overview is one of three papers that form part of the outputs for the independent evaluation of the ‘What Works to end Violence against Women and Girls’ research programme. What Works is DFID’s flagship VAWG knowledge generation programme (WW-VAWG), and it is divided into three components global programme, conflict and crises, costs of violence.1This paper is intended to draw out the important lessons that have emerged across these components in relation to research design, data collection, ethical protocols, data analysis and the identification of key findings. In particular, it seeks to better understand the legacy of the first WW-VAWG programme in research terms, and to be realistic in presenting the challenges and the key lessons learnt. Appreciating the reach and significance of the research and where it leaves us is important not just for the global movement to end VAWG but also in terms of informing where the next phase of the programme needs to focus its efforts.
What Works to Prevent VAWG: Research and Innovation Programme - Thematic Paper 2: Research Uptake
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- VAWG themes VAWG & Economic Empowerment
This is Thematic Paper 2 in a series of papers being produced by the Evaluation Team of the DFID-funded What Works to Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls (WW-VAWG) Research and Innovation Fund as the portfolio of evaluation activities draws to a close. The WW-VAWG is a multi-year, multi-component research and evidence programme focused on identifying ways to eliminate VAWG.
What Works to Prevent VAWG: Research and Innovation Programme - Thematic Paper 3: Innovation
Additional Info
- VAWG themes VAWG & Economic Empowerment
This is Thematic Paper 3 in a series of papers being produced by the Independent Evaluation (IE) Team of the DFID-funded What Works to Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls (WW-VAWG) Research and Innovation Fund, as the portfolio of evaluation activities draws to a close. The WW-VAWG is a multi-year, multi-component research and evidence programme focused on identifying ways to eliminate VAWG.
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Effective design and implementation elements in interventions to prevent violence against women and girls
Over the last two decades, the global community has come to recognise the profound impact of violence on the lives of women and girls. This fundamentally undermines their health and well-being, and stands as a barrier to women’s full participation in global development and the economic and civic life of their communities. This evidence brief outlines the effective design and implementation elements in interventions to prevent violence against women and girls emanating from the UKAID-funded, What Works to Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls (What Works) programme, a six-year, £25-million investment in VAWG prevention.
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Effective design and implementation elements in interventions to prevent violence against women and girls - EVIDENCE BRIEF
Over the last two decades, the global community has come to recognise the profound impact of violence on the lives of women and girls. This fundamentally undermines their health and well-being, and stands as a barrier to women’s full participation in global development and the economic and civic life of their communities. This evidence brief outlines the effective design and implementation elements in interventions to prevent violence against women and girls emanating from the UKAID-funded, What Works to Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls (What Works) programme, a six-year, £25-million investment in VAWG prevention.
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A rigorous global evidence review of interventions to prevent violence against women and girls, What Works to prevent violence against women and girls global Programme, Pretoria, South Africa
Kerr-Wilson, A.; Gibbs, A.; McAslan Fraser E.; Ramsoomar, L.; Parke, A.; Khuwaja, HMA.; and Jewkes, R (2020). A rigorous global evidence review of interventions to prevent violence against women and girls, What Works to prevent violence against women and girls global Programme, Pretoria, South Africa
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Violence against women and girls (VAWG) is preventable. Over the last two decades, VAWG prevention practitioners and researchers have been developing and testing interventions to stop violence from occurring, in addition to mitigating its consequences. This rigorous, in-depth review of the state of the field presents what is now known five years on after the UKAID-funded, What Works to Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls (What Works) programme, a six year investment, in advancing our understanding of What Works within the context of the wider evidence base. -
A rigorous global evidence review of interventions to prevent - EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Violence against women and girls (VAWG) is preventable. Over the last two decades, VAWG prevention practitioners and researchers have been developing and testing interventions to stop violence from occurring, in addition to mitigating its consequences. This document is an executive summary of the longer review of the state of the field of VAWG prevention, five years on after the UKAID-funded, What Works to Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls (What Works) programme, a six year investment, in advancing our understanding of What Works within the context of the wider evidence base.
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What works to prevent violence against women and girls in conflict and humanitarian crisis: Synthesis Brief
Violence against women and girls (VAWG) is an important human rights concern and a pervasive issue affecting women and girls during times of conflict and humanitarian crisis. In 2016, the What Works to Prevent VAWG programme published an evidence brief [GF1] summarising the existing evidence base on VAWG in these settings. While the brief demonstrated that there is very limited evidence on what works to prevent and respond to VAWG in conflict and humanitarian settings, it did highlight key areas of learning and specify what information gaps remain.
Since the publication of the 2016 What Works evidence brief, researchers and practitioners have continued to conduct research and expand the international community’s knowledge base around VAWG and the effectiveness of programmes that seek to prevent and respond to this violence. These efforts include new results from eight research studies conducted by members of the What Works consortium in various conflict-affected and humanitarian settings. This new brief synthesises the key results of these What Works studies as well as other key findings from contemporaneous research efforts published since 2015. It aims to provide an up-to-date resource for practitioners, policymakers and researchers on the state of evidence on VAWG in conflict and humanitarian settings.
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Andrew Gibbs, Kristin Dunkle, Leane Ramsoomar, Samantha Willan, Nwabisa Jama Shai, Sangeeta Chatterji, Ruchira Naved & Rachel Jewkes (2020) New learnings on drivers of men’s physical and/or sexual violence against their female partners, and women’s experiences of this, and the implications for prevention interventions, Global Health Action, 13:1, 1739845, DOI: 10.1080/16549716.2020.1739845
Impact of the Change Starts at Home Trial on Women’s experience of intimate partner violence in Nepal
Clark, C. J., Shrestha, B., Ferguson, G., Shrestha, P. N., Calvert, C., Gupta, J., ... & Oakes, J. M. (2020). Impact of the Change Starts at Home Trial on Women's experience of intimate partner violence in Nepal. SSM-Population Health, 10, 100530.
Gibbs, A., Washington, L., Abdelatif, N., Chirwa, E., Willan, S., Shai, N., ... & Jewkes, R. (2020). Stepping Stones and Creating Futures intervention to prevent intimate partner violence among young people: cluster randomized controlled trial. Journal of Adolescent Health, 66(3), 323-335.
How people with disabilities experience programs to prevent intimate partner violence across four countries
Stern, E., van der Heijden, I., & Dunkle, K. (2020). How people with disabilities experience programs to prevent intimate partner violence across four countries. Evaluation and program planning, 79, 101770.
Gupta, J., Cardoso, L. F., Ferguson, G., Shrestha, B., Shrestha, P. N., Harris, C., ... & Clark, C. J. (2018). Disability status, intimate partner violence and perceived social support among married women in three districts of the Terai region of Nepal. BMJ global health, 3(5).
A presentation by PROF RACHEL JEWKES
Consortium director, what works global programme
executive scientist in the office of the president, South African Medical Research Council
at an event to mark International Women’s Day and celebrate the end of DFID’s ground-breaking What Works to Prevent Violence Programme.
Additional Info
- VAWG themes Costs of VAWG
This evidence brief presents key findings about the impact of VAWG on national economies and society in Ghana, South Sudan and Pakistan. It demonstrates that VAWG causes a drag on economic activity at the level of individuals, families, businesses and national economies. This economic drag is the cost that governments incur by failing to invest in the prevention and prosecution of VAWG and the protection of victims and survivors. Further, VAWG impedes important activities for social reproduction typically performed by women, including caring for others, sustaining relationships and networks, and participating in a wide range of community, social and political activities, and thus impacts on women’s empowerment and capabilities.
Effective design and implementation elements in interventions to prevent violence against women and girls
Additional Info
- VAWG themes VAWG & Disability, VAWG & Education, VAWG & Economic Empowerment, VAWG in Conflict and Humanitarian Crises, VAWG & Social Norms, Costs of VAWG
- Country Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, India, Kenya, Nepal, Pakistan, Rwanda, South Africa, Tajikistan, Zambia, Syria
Over the last two decades, the global community has come to recognise the profound impact of violence on the lives of women and girls. This fundamentally undermines their health and well-being, and stands as a barrier to women’s full participation in global development and the economic and civic life of their communities. This evidence brief outlines the effective design and implementation elements in interventions to prevent violence against women and girls emanating from the UKAID-funded, What Works to Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls (What Works) programme, a six-year, £25-million investment in VAWG prevention.
Can community outreach reduce men’s use of partner violence? Findings from the CHANGE Trial in South Africa
Additional Info
- Country South Africa
Little is known about how to reduce men’s perpetration of intimate partner violence. Our team, from Sonke Gender Justice and Wits University, led the Sonke CHANGE Trial in Diepsloot, a township near Johannesburg.The trial tested if the Sonke CHANGE intervention could reduce men’s reports of perpetrating partner violence over two years. A trial means that some areas of Diepsloot were randomly chosen to get the project (called “intervention clusters”), while others did not (“control clusters”). This allowed us to compare behaviors of men living in intervention clusters with men living in control clusters.
Effective design and implementation elements in interventions to prevent violence against women and girls - EVIDENCE BRIEF
Additional Info
- VAWG themes VAWG & Disability, VAWG & Education, VAWG & Economic Empowerment, VAWG in Conflict and Humanitarian Crises, VAWG & Social Norms, Costs of VAWG
- Country Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, India, Kenya, Nepal, Pakistan, Rwanda, South Africa, Tajikistan, Zambia, Syria
Over the last two decades, the global community has come to recognise the profound impact of violence on the lives of women and girls. This fundamentally undermines their health and well-being, and stands as a barrier to women’s full participation in global development and the economic and civic life of their communities. This evidence brief outlines the effective design and implementation elements in interventions to prevent violence against women and girls emanating from the UKAID-funded, What Works to Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls (What Works) programme, a six-year, £25-million investment in VAWG prevention.
Additional Info
- VAWG themes VAWG & Disability, VAWG & Education, VAWG & Economic Empowerment, VAWG in Conflict and Humanitarian Crises, VAWG & Social Norms, Costs of VAWG
- Country Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, India, Kenya, Nepal, Pakistan, Rwanda, South Africa, Tajikistan, Zambia, Syria
Kerr-Wilson, A.; Gibbs, A.; McAslan Fraser E.; Ramsoomar, L.; Parke, A.; Khuwaja, HMA.; and Jewkes, R (2020). A rigorous global evidence review of interventions to prevent violence against women and girls, What Works to prevent violence against women and girls global Programme, Pretoria, South Africa
Violence against women and girls (VAWG) is preventable. Over the last two decades, VAWG prevention practitioners and researchers have been developing and testing interventions to stop violence from occurring, in addition to mitigating its consequences. This rigorous, in-depth review of the state of the field presents what is now known five years on after the UKAID-funded, What Works to Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls (What Works) programme, a six year investment, in advancing our understanding of What Works within the context of the wider evidence base.
Additional Info
- VAWG themes VAWG & Disability, VAWG & Education, VAWG & Economic Empowerment, VAWG in Conflict and Humanitarian Crises, VAWG & Social Norms, Costs of VAWG
- Country Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, India, Kenya, Nepal, Pakistan, Rwanda, South Africa, Tajikistan, Zambia, Syria
Violence against women and girls (VAWG) is preventable. Over the last two decades, VAWG prevention practitioners and researchers have been developing and testing interventions to stop violence from occurring, in addition to mitigating its consequences. This document is an executive summary of the longer review of the state of the field of VAWG prevention, five years on after the UKAID-funded, What Works to Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls (What Works) programme, a six year investment, in advancing our understanding of What Works within the context of the wider evidence base.
Additional Info
- VAWG themes VAWG & Disability, VAWG & Economic Empowerment, VAWG in Conflict and Humanitarian Crises, VAWG & Social Norms
A critical task of the past 25 years of research on violence against women and girls (VAWG) has been to develop an understanding of the drivers of men’s perpetration of intimate partner violence (IPV) – physical and/or sexual violence against their female partners – and the risk factors that shape women’s experience of IPV. In this brief, we reflect on the evidence produced through What Works, as well as the wider body of literature that has emerged in the past six to ten years. We also provide a comprehensive review of new knowledge of the drivers of, and risk factors for, men’s violence against their wives or girlfriends.
Additional Info
- VAWG themes Costs of VAWG
This evidence brief presents key findings about the impact of VAWG on national economies and society in Ghana, South Sudan and Pakistan. It demonstrates that VAWG causes a drag on economic activity at the level of individuals, families, businesses and national economies. This economic drag is the cost that governments incur by failing to invest in the prevention and prosecution of VAWG and the protection of victims and survivors. Further, VAWG impedes important activities for social reproduction typically performed by women, including caring for others, sustaining relationships and networks, and participating in a wide range of community, social and political activities, and thus impacts on women’s empowerment and capabilities.
Evaluation of Zindagii Shoista (Living with Dignity), an intervention to prevent violence against women in Tajikistan: impact after 30 months
Additional Info
- VAWG themes VAWG & Economic Empowerment
- Country Tajikistan
This report outlines the medium-term impacts of Zindagii Shoista (Living with Dignity) – a project to prevent violence against women and girls (VAWG) in Tajikistan – by determining levels of violence and measuring socioeconomic and emotional wellbeing indicators 15 months after the project ended – 30 months after its commencement. At the endline of the intervention, VAWG levels had dropped by 50%, and relationship and gender equality indicators had improved. Significant positive changes were seen for all socioeconomic status indicators as well as significant positive changes for all health measures, including depression scale and suicidality.
Ogum-Alangea, D., Addo-Lartey, A., Chirwa, E., Sikweyiya, Y., Coker-Appiah, D., Jewkes, R., & Adanu, R. (2019). Evaluation of the Rural Response System (RRS) to Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls in Ghana.