With one in three women globally experiencing physical and/or sexual violence in her lifetime—a figure worsening during the COVID-19 pandemic—improved understanding of and investments in effective violence prevention solutions are urgently needed.

What Works to Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls, a program funded by the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID) from December 2013 through March 2020, worked in 15 countries across Africa and Asia to build the evidence base on drivers of violence against women and girls (VAWG) and what works to prevent VAWG. What Works found that violence is preventable and generated rigorous evidence of effective interventions.

On Sept. 29, 2020, the IGWG brought together presenters from the What Works consortium to share groundbreaking findings from this body of research, discuss the implications for policy and practice, and explore what it all means in the era of COVID-19. Participants learnt about program strategies that, when adapted to local context, are proven to dismantle patriarchal social norms, reduce VAWG, and improve reproductive health outcomes.

Presenters included:

Professor Rachel Jewkes
Executive Scientist, South African Medical Research Council
Former Consortium Director, What Works to Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls
What Works to Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls?

Dr. Andrew Gibbs
Senior Specialist Scientist, South African Medical Research Council
The Impact of Stepping Stones and Creating Futures on Intimate Partner Violence, Livelihoods, and Sexual and Reproductive Health Outcomes

Samantha Willan
Capacity Development Specialist and Gender Based Violence Researcher, South African Medical Research Council
Young Women’s Reproductive Decisionmaking and Agency in South African Informal Settlements

Emily Esplen
Social Development Adviser, Violence Against Women and Girls
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office