Practice-Based Learning Brief: Integrating VAC and GBV prevention into national education systems
This PBL brief consolidates learning from grantee and consortium partners of the What Works II programme on integrating VAC and GBV prevention into national education systems.
This PBL brief consolidates learning from grantee and consortium partners of the What Works II programme on integrating VAC and GBV prevention into national education systems. Through a process of interviews and validation workshops, representatives from each organisation identified five lessons as crucial foundations for integrating VAC and GBV prevention programming into schools and national education systems. Each lesson is accompanied by practical examples from our partners on how to put these lessons into practice. The lessons are summarised below, along with some examples of activities detailed in the report:
Lesson 1: Partner with government to promote sustainability and scale
Build ownership with government departments and ministries to promote the sustainability of curricula. For example:
Co-create curricula with government ministries
Find opportunities to publicly recognise government contributions
Offer frequent follow-ups with government focal points to update them about the programme
Leverage national level policy change to promote government engagement with the programme
Demonstrate impact to help build trust in the programme’s aims, approach and value for money. For example:
Generate evidence of impact and present this to key stakeholders to generate buy-in
Build a reputation as leaders in education and VAC and GBV prevention among government ministers to strengthen influence
Lesson 2: Develop and adapt curricula that integrate VAC and GBV prevention
Consider whether to develop new curricula or integrate VAC and GBV prevention into existing curricula. For example:
Consult school leadership and teachers during the development of curricula to build buy-in and ensure the approach is well-suited to the needs of the school.
Ensure curricula are culturally relevant and child appropriate. For example:
Partner with communities to develop culturally relevant curricula
Work with children and child education experts to develop age-appropriate curricula
Ensure regular assessment of curricula to enable continued adaptation
Lesson 3: Work with teachers as agents of change
Utilise a range of strategies for building the capacity of and providing ongoing support for teachers
Integrate VAC and GBV prevention and gender equality into existing pre-service and in-service teacher training
Offer follow-up support for teachers engaged in the programme
Support teachers to address and shift their own harmful attitudes and behaviours
Develop a scripted curriculum or facilitators’ guide for teachers
Build programme ownership among teachers to promote effective curriculum implementation
Demonstrate the positive impact of the curriculum on student behaviour and how it can improve teachers’ working environments
Review teachers’ workloads to ensure additional curriculum requirements to not inadvertently overload them
Work with school leadership to build buy-in and strengthen the systems that enable educators to implement the curriculum effectively
Conduct onboarding meetings with school leadership
Offer regular follow-up support
Facilitate opportunities for school leadership to come together to share lessons
Lesson 4: Engage communities and parents/ caregivers
Build support and buy-in for the curricula among communities, parents and care givers
Dedicate time to discussing the content and context of the curricula with parents/ caregivers from the outset
Invite dialogue around VAC and GBV through parent/ care giver- teacher meetings and other events
Provide school leadership with access to resources to support them engage with parents/caregivers about the curriculum
Lesson 5: Capture lessons to improve programming and influence change
Capture lessons to improve programming:
Develop a child-centered approach to MEL
Capture evidence to influence change:
Participate in evaluations that demonstrate evidence of impact and share findings with key stakeholders
Combine monitoring data with testimonies to develop advocacy materials
Watch this space for the Compendium of Case Studies - coming soon!
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Our grants include Innovation and Scale grants across a number of focus areas. In our first funding round, eight grants have been awarded.