Tackling Violence against Women: From Knowledge to Practical

Also of interest in the RSg approach is that it is able to integrate programming
variability and observational research designs into a review. Variability is
necessary in that VAw interventions (such as those to prevent HIV/AIDS) have
different complexities and scales, and are staged among different population
groups, settings, and contexts. Observational research designs are not ideal
from a scientific standpoint, because they lack the controls on possible sources
of bias that can be achieved through the ‘gold standard’ of randomized
controlled trials or other experimental research designs. But observational
research designs are used in the vast majority of VAw programming (just as
for HIV/AIDS programming or, in fact, most policy research). So it is practically
necessary to be able to include observational research designs in any VAw
programming review.
A general finding of a wHO RSg review was that there is often a paucity of
adequate evidence of the effectiveness of different types of intervention.
Although there are notable exceptions (see the examples above), this can
be expected in the case of VAw interventions too. As the introduction of the
USAID and evaluation compendium notes, ‘the dearth of rigorous evaluations’
for VAw programmes ‘has resulted in a lack of data to support recommendations
for best practices in the field’ (Bloom, 2008, p. 9).
A comprehensive evaluation would highlight interventions that have been
shown to be effective on the ground. going further, it would compare
interventions to establish the key success factors in programme design.
Comparison of this kind is important in order to build upon and refine lessons
that have emerged from VAw programming.
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FiVE PossiBlE iNiTiATiVEs To Fill REsEARcH GAPs
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