Readiness for Scale: Flagship Report and Brief

WHAT WORKS II FLAGSHIP REPORT 2026
Readiness for Scale: What Governments and Civil Society Need to Consider to Scale Projects to Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls

This report shares practice-based learning from the What Works II initiative on what governments and civil society need to consider when preparing to scale projects that prevent violence against women and girls (VAWG).

Drawing on the experiences of What Works II grantee partners, the report explores three interrelated dimensions of readiness for scale: intervention readiness, organisational readiness and government readiness. It highlights that scaling effective VAWG prevention approaches involves more than replicating proven interventions in new settings or reaching larger populations. It also requires adaptation, strong partnerships, adequate resources, and supportive political and institutional conditions to sustain quality, effectiveness and accountability to women, girls and local communities.

Based primarily on interviews with grantee partners, alongside written reflections and insights from the wider literature, the report identifies key lessons, challenges and considerations for those working to take VAWG prevention approaches to scale. It provides practical recommendations for practitioners, researchers, donors and governments seeking to support ethical, effective and sustainable scale.

This is the second report in the What Works II series on scaling VAWG prevention.

Read the full report or the executive brief here.

Authors: Tina Musuya, Alice Kerr-Wilson, Dorah Kiconco Musinguzi and Shanaaz Mathews.