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. 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