Co-creating an agenda: Practice-based learning and knowledge for women’s and feminist movements to end violence against women and girls

SVRI Forum 2024 workshop report 

This paper captures key insights from the SVRI Forum 2024 workshop on practice-based learning and knowledge (PBL/K) for ending violence against women and girls as well as feminist movements. Held on 21 October 2024 in Cape Town, South Africa, the workshop was co-hosted by Raising Voices, the What Works 2 Programme, and the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women. 

Bringing together over 90 practitioners, activists, researchers, policymakers and donors, the workshop used an inclusive, multilingual process to examine: 

• why PBL/K is vital;  
• how it can be better documented, resourced and legitimized;  
• how it amplifies the voices of practitioners working closely with communities and drives transformative change; and  
• what collective action is needed to elevate PBL/K in policies, research and practice.  

The workshop proposed five key actions to advance PBL/K: 

1. Consolidate practitioner insights 
2. Disseminate PBL/K using diverse and inclusive methods 
3. Network to exchange PBL/K via communities of practice and mentorship 
4. Advocate for the integration of PBL/K into policy, research and programming 
5. Resource PBL/K through dedicated donor support and grants. 

The workshop and its eight-month participatory process mark a significant step towards centring feminist, practitioner-led, community-driven knowledge in global efforts to end violence against women and girls.