Every development project is an opportunity to address the drivers of violence and transform harmful social norms that not only put women at risk for violence, but also limit progress and development.
Integrating GBV prevention efforts into large scale sectoral programmes can leverage the reach and scale of these programmes while building capacity and commitment among unusual partners to address GBV across all aspects of their work. For example, bringing on board environment and agriculture ministries and economic recovery units, among others, expands the opportunities for large-scale GBV programming.
The GBV prevention field can also provide important evidence-based insights on transforming community and social norms and behaviours that could be useful to achieving other changes relevant to the programme. In addition, taking an integration approach that effectively prevents GBV and increases gender equality can accelerate the achievement of broader development goals. Therefore, this approach has the potential to transform many people’s lives.
The ‘Ending Gender-based Violence and Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals’ global project is applying this approach and integrating GBV prevention into programming in sectors such as livelihoods and climate change in Bhutan, Iraq, Lebanon and Uganda. Preliminary results indicate that integrating GBV into “non-GBV” sectors can increase gender equitable attitudes and behaviors, decrease violence acceptance, and improve family relationships.
- In Iraq, both male and female participants reported improved anger management and changed attitudes towards violence against children.
- In Lebanon, the project contributed to safer workplaces for women, as eight employers drafted new policies to combat sexual harassment.
- In Uganda, UNDP developed a GBV Risk Mitigation Strategy and improved safeguards for participants of a large climate change project.
- In Bhutan, 153 adolescent participants in a school-based curriculum adopted more gender equitable attitudes.
Knowledge Products & Links:
- Livelihoods and GBV in Protracted Crises: Lessons from the Levant (attached)
- Adapting the Indashyikirwa Intimate Partner Violence Prevention Programme: Lessons Learned in Iraq and Lebanon (attached)
- Integrating GBV Prevention into Livelihoods Programming: Learnings from Lebanon
- Why Climate Change Fuels Violence Against Women
- Integrating GBV Prevention into Non-traditional Sector Programmes
- How lessons from COVID-19 can strengthen efforts to prevent gender-based violence
- Emerging promising practices from integrating GBV prevention into economic empowerment initiatives in Lebanon
