Lessons from civil society organisations funded by the UN Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women on prevention

Synthesis Review Series: Paper #2

Engaging with faith-based and traditional actors can help or hinder the prevention of violence against women and/or girls (VAWG). On the one hand, these actors can promote beliefs, norms and practices that support and enable VAWG prevention, but, on the other hand, they can also encourage ones that hinder prevention or even encourage forms of VAWG. However, empirical evidence shows that the reach and influence of faith-based and traditional actors cannot be ignored.

This synthesis review centres the voices of key practitioners in the field and their practice-based knowledge (PBK), focusing on 10 diverse projects funded by the UN Trust Fund – their evaluations, monitoring reports and focus group discussions with project staff. The projects engaged with faith-based and traditional actors for VAWG prevention across different countries, with a wide range of actors, using multiple approaches and with differing aims. Placing this unique, diverse collection of 10 projects in conversation with each other allows rich reflections on lessons learned from practice, especially regarding why and how to engage faith-based and traditional actors in prevention.

Read the Summary on Engaging Faith-Based and Traditional Actors

Read the Appendix for the Synthesis Review on Engaging Faith-Based and Traditional Actors