Identify local organizations active in the area of violence against women and girls (e.g. women’s groups and social services) and related topics (e.g. poverty, education, justice, HIV and AIDS, youth groups, sexual and reproductive health organizations, among others) to develop a strategic course of action that builds on each organization’s strength and abilities.
What are some of the concerns related to partnering with other organizations?
In spite of the challenges of working in partnership, such an approach is likely to lead to better outcomes.
Working in partnership can be challenging and time-consuming, but can have higher payoffs for results and lasting change.
Build enough time into initiatives for coordination and joint decision-making to build a shared vision, goal and methods of working.
Identify actors and establish partnerships with groups involved in areas that are intrinsically related to violence against women, such as HIV and AIDS, sexual and reproductive health, human rights and safe motherhood, education/sexuality education, among others. (Possible partners include the health sector, the education sector, the judicial sector, and private organizations interested in promoting non-violence).
An example of a successful partnership to prevent violence against women (Soul City, South Africa)
To address gender-based violence, Soul City, a multi-media health promotion and social change project in >South Africa , established a partnership with the National Network on
Violence against Women – a coalition of 1,500 activists and community organizations from rural and urban areas. The objectives of the partnership included:
1) Conveying information on women’s rights, raising awareness, promoting changes in attitudes, social norms and practices on violence against women;
2) Helping connect audiences to needed services, including through a toll free helpline;
3) Promoting individual and community action;
4) Creating an environment conducive to legislative change; and
5) Developing training materials on violence against women for various audiences.
View the Soul City Case Study.
Tools that can help in the process of establishing partnerships
Expanding Alliances (Michael Kaufman) for the Family Violence Prevention Fund’s Toolkit for Working with Men and Boys
This exercise examines the possibility of building new alliances to prevent gender-based violence. Available in English.
Young Men and HIV Prevention: a Tool Kit for Action (Promundo and UNFPA)
The toolkit contains an adapted version of Michael Kaufman’s exercise, titled “Reflection Activity: Building Alliances”. It is available in English, Portuguese and Spanish on page 29.
Honour Related Violence: Prevention of Violence Against Women and Girls in Patriarchal Societies (KVINNOFORUM).
This manual provides a number of exercises that promote multi-sector collaboration. They may be useful when thinking about partnering with other organizations and as various organizations come together to discuss a plan of action. These exercises can be found in section 11 on multi-sector cooperation and include:
- Exercise 11.1 - Method for improved cooperation – page 99
- Exercise 11.2 - Knowledge hunters – page 100
- Exercise 11.3 - Case studies – page 101
- Exercise 11.4 - SWOT-Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats – page 102
- Exercise 11.5 - Making a plan of action – page 102
It is available in English.