Event: Using data and evidence to scale-up, replicate and sustain project results
Date:
On 15 March 2018, the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women (UN Trust Fund) organized an informal discussion and knowledge sharing session on “Why data and evidence matters in UN Trust Fund projects: how to use data and evidence to effectively scale-up, replicate and sustain project results, and make the case for reinvestment.” This was the fourth in a series of UN Trust Fund organized informal brownbag events hosted in conjunction with the 62nd Session of the Commission on the Status of Women.
Presenters included Ms. Urvashi Gandhi, Deputy Director for Advocacy and Knowledge Management from Breakthrough India; Ms. Cecilia Elizabeth Mena Carrera, Director of ACDemocracia from Ecuador; Ms. Alexa Hassink, Senior Communications and Advocacy Officer from Promundo operating in Brazil and the Democratic Republic of the Congo; and Ms. Kirsten Laursen Muth from Episcopal Relief and Development, Liberia, all representing organizations receiving grants from the UN Trust Fund. They shared experiences and promising practices in collecting and using data and evidence to scale-up, replicate and sustain results.
The UN Trust Fund and its grantees place a strong focus on the role that evidence plays in increasing and sustaining investments in projects to prevent and end violence against women and girls. Collecting data, testimonies, and documenting experiences of women and girl survivors of violence as well as from men, boys, service providers, and faith leaders, for example, are essential to evaluate and improve prevention efforts and responses to violence.
The presenters identified key areas of focus for successful replication and scaling of projects funded by the UN Trust Fund. These include:
- Reliable data based on measurable indicators to demonstrate change;
- Sustainably feeding into the implementation of Government’s policies;
- Institutionalization of the project by the Government while ensuring the original conceptual framework is maintained;
- Replication in different contexts, keeping in mind the adjustments necessary for successful adaptation;
- Documenting processes, case studies, and paths to successes, although necessary for collecting evidence, can be a challenge for smaller organizations.
ACDemocracia spoke about their work to ensure access to justice for women survivors of violence in 10 districts in Ecuador. In January 2018, thanks to their advocacy with civil society and the mobilization of communities, a new Comprehensive Law for the Prevention and Eradication of Violence against Women was approved with 90% votes in favor by the government in Ecuador. Ms. Carrera spoke on how the organization will scale-up and coordinate with ministries to ensure the implementation of the law. The support of the Government is crucial as Rocío Rosero, Vice Minister of Economic and Social Inclusion said, “The resolution that we adopt today, sets out to eradicate violence against women and girls, as a national priority. This shall be a shared priority for all political parties, for all commercial interests, for social organizations, and for all of the functions of the State.”
Operating in Brazil and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, UN Trust Fund grantee Promundo spoke about data that shows an increase in knowledge about gender and an increase in non-violent communication as a result of their project, as a case for scaling up their efforts. Reports included a 28 per cent decrease in female participants in Brazil reportedly being humiliated or insulted in the previous three months. A female participant in the DRC said, “I have confidence in myself now. I have seen that girls can do a lot of things. Having the facilitators and talking with other girls helped me to choose my goals, to choose my friends better – those who will be [a] good influence for me and my future.”