Learning from practice: Training for behaviour change to prevent violence against women and girls 

Designing effective training takes time and effort; it requires an iterative and adaptive process that is time and resource intensive. In spite of being widely used as a tool for preventing violence against women and girls (VAWG), there is not enough literature on why, or how, training can be integrated into different programme pathways to move from initial awareness raising and short-term individual behaviour change to sustained shifts in social norms. From the perspective of behaviour change, training can have enormous strategic value and be a critical pathway to prevent VAWG.

This synthesis review draws out some cross-cutting best practices, challenges and lessons from 7 diverse civil society organizations that used training as a key strategic activity for transformative change in their interventions. Drawing on the experiences of 7 civil society organizations in different countries and territories, the review: 

• showcases the unique contributions of different types and sizes of organizations, from small locally based youth groups to large international human rights organizations; 
• highlights diverse forms, objectives, durations, intensities and participants of trainings for VAWG prevention in different social contexts; and
• provides practical tips and recommendations for those leveraging trainings within their prevention interventions, i.e. for practitioners, researchers and for donors. 

This review is part of a Prevention Series.