Putting accountability into practice: Upholding commitments to women and girls in VAWG prevention

Mpho is a criminologist and development practitioner with 10 years’ experience leading tri-sector social impact initiatives across Africa and Europe. She currently serves as the Accountability Co-lead for the What Works II Consortium, a global effort to prevent violence against women and girls through evidence-based interventions. In her previous work, she conducted a backlash and containment research that supported Co- Impact’s $1 Billion Gender Fund. She has wealth of experience on gender, diversity & inclusion, LGBTQIA rights and violence against women and girls.

Elizabeth Dartnall is the Executive Director of the Sexual Violence Research Initiative (SVRI). A global health specialist with over 25 years of experience in health systems, mental health, and the prevention of violence against women and children, Liz has worked across government and research sectors in diverse international contexts. She brings a deep understanding of the policy-making process and the critical role research plays in shaping evidence-informed policy and practice. Since 2006, Liz has led the SVRI, successfully transitioning it into an independent NGO with the support and collaboration of multiple global partners. Liz is driven by a deep commitment to feminist, ethical, and equitable approaches, and continues to lead research and policy initiatives that are helping to build a world free from violence against women and children.

Zwellicia N Dlamini is a Programmes Officer who also oversees safeguarding and accountability within the What Works II programme, advancing gender equality, sexual violence prevention, and community development. At Women Unlimited Eswatini, she designs and manages impactful projects, strengthens stakeholder partnerships, and delivers evidence-based insights to influence policy. With experience in M&E, market research, and youth engagement, she holds a BA in Social Sciences and is pursuing a Postgraduate Diploma in Project Management.

Cristin Marona is a behavioral scientist and global health leader with over 15 years of experience advancing gender equity, sexual and reproductive health, and violence prevention across Africa, Asia, and the United States. Early in her career, she led the development and rollout of Tanzania’s National GBV Policy and Management Guidelines, strengthening national accountability frameworks for prevention and response. She went on to design violence prevention curricula in Kenya and has consistently explored the intersection of intimate partner violence (IPV) and social and behavior change communication (SBCC) across her portfolio. As Director of Positive Change at Matchboxology, Cristin previously directed multi-country programs, including the HCD component of USAID’s Agency for All, where she helped shape global learning on women’s agency in SRHR. In Niger, she and the team built a gender-transformative framework using human-centered design to advance equitable approaches to contraceptive access. She has also guided large-scale donor-funded initiatives with USAID, PEPFAR, CDC, FCDO, and the Gates Foundation, advising governments, civil society, and local partners to embed equity and accountability into health systems and policy. Cristin is currently a global health consultant, teaching and advising on equity-centered design and behavioral science. She is an Adjunct Professor at Boston University and lectures annually at universities across Africa, Europe, and the US. She holds a Master of Public Health from Boston University and is completing her Doctorate of Public Health at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. Having lived and worked for more than 15 years in Kenya, Tanzania, Eswatini, and South Africa, Cristin is committed to advancing health and gender equity through community-led, accountable systems.

Kajal is a health rights professional with over 20 years of experience in public health, women’s health rights, and advocacy, with extensive experience in participatory, multi-stakeholder processes to improve accountability and responsiveness of public health services. She has been with MASUM, Pune, since 2009, where she leads a programme on women’s health rights and coordinates the biennial state-level conferences on the issue. She is also a long-standing member of Jan Swasthya Abhiyan- an Indian chapter of Public Health Movement, and is contributing to advancing universal health care and women’s reproductive rights at the state and national levels. Currently, she leads a project in Aurangabad focused on strengthening the health system and community responses to violence against women. Kajal is a recipient of the Collective Impact Partnership Fellowship and the Women Lift Health Leadership Programme.Kajal holds a Master’s Degree in Social Work and an MPhil in Women and Child Development from India.