VAW/GBV Knowledge Hub WHAT’S HAPPENING? September 2014 The Knowledge Hub core team has begun work on a number of things. Many readers of this update will have been contacted already about one or more of these, and we invite further interest - please email or skype at any time. The work on our thematic focus of VAWG/GBV we are calling “Knowledge Initiatives” (KI), and there are nine KIs in the KH workplan right now. The work needed to ensure a good functioning Knowledge Network we are calling “Supporting Initiatives” and we describe a few of these below. Quick reminder
November 2013, Oxfam-wide Survey • Responses from over 40 countries programming in VAWG/GBV • See Oxfam VAWG/GBV Knowledge Hub, Report of the November 2013 VAWG/GBV Survey February 2014, Launch event, Johannesburg • 40 participants, including representatives from 20 different countries • See Oxfam VAWG/GBV Knowledge Hub, Summary Report of the Launch Event in Johannesburg, February, 2014.
Knowledge Initiatives Knowledge Initiative on Implementation Gaps
Core team contact: Christine Hughes What is it:
Exploring the gap between the provisions of national-level VAWG/GBV legislation and the reality experienced by victims of violence in terms of quantity and quality of services. Progress to date:
• Reference and working groups are being established. • Outreach will soon begin to understand the specific knowledge needs of country and regional program colleagues. Note: The KH is working closely with the team leading on International Action Plan advocacy.
Knowledge Initiative on Men and Masculinities Core team contact: Christine Hughes What is it:
Reviewing current knowledge – within Oxfam and beyond – on working with men and boys, including traditional leaders, as allies in changing attitudes, norms and behaviours on VAWG/GBV. Progress to date:
Initial scoping to occur in early October. Three more Knowledge Initiatives were identified as priorities by program colleagues: VAWG/GBV in Conflict, Access to justice and Marginalized groups. These will be initiated in 2015. There are four additional Knowledge Initiatives: -1-
Knowledge Initiative on Evidence of Oxfam’s contribution to attitude, norm, and behaviour (ANB) change
Core team contact: Laura Haylock What is it: The KH leads this component of the confederation plan to evaluate the Oxfam Strategic Plan, and must produce a report for Oxfam Executive Directors by late 2015 on what impact our programs are having on changing attitudes, norms and behaviours to end VAWG/GBV. As well, this initiative provides an opportunity for the KH to support capacity development on ANB programming and evaluation. Progress to date: • Mapping completed, 25 evaluations of VAWG/ GBV programming that will occur in 2014/2015. • Webinar on “Good to Great ANB Change Surveys”, June 2014. Translations of the webinar are underway. • Design of “One Oxfam” questions on ANB change to include in upcoming evaluations. • Exploring interest in and feasibility of a F2F learning event in October 2015 on this important topic.
Knowledge Initiative on VAW dimensions of inequality
Core team contact: Christine Hughes What is it: A paper co-produced with the Oxfam KH on Women’s Economic Empowerment in Agriculture which focuses on the complex relationships between WEE and domestic violence. This short paper will be available in three languages in November 2014. Progress to date: • A reference group has been established, coauthors identified, literature review has begun. • A sample of colleagues in countries have been contacted for their input.
Did you Know? • •
More than half of Oxfam VAWG/GBV programs have total budgets of less than 500,000 USD. Most VAWG/GBV programs surveyed in November 2013 are due to end in 2014 or 2015.
Two other initiatives, on Research and evaluation ethics
(Core team contact: Laura Haylock) and on Child, Early and Forced Marriage and FGM (Core team contact: Genevieve Gauthier) are in initial reflection stage.
Supporting Initiatives Supporting Initiative: Virtual Platform Core team contact: Anja Kessler The KH has worked since its inception with the FC3 team to design the KH Virtual Platform. Design session held in Johannesburg to get inputs and insights from program colleagues about the functionalities they would like to see. The FC3 team will soon be ready to announce its recommended platform. A content plan and an engagement strategy are being written.
Supporting Initiative: Key Performance Indicators
Core team contact: Laura Haylock The KH is working with the OI Knowledge Hub team to define common key performance indicators (KPIs) for all KHs, building on research the KH conducted on knowledge and knowledge management, and will develop additional KPIs specific to the VAWG/GBV KH.
Supporting Initiative: Support to Fundraising
Core team contact: Genevieve Gauthier The KH continues its work to support program fundraising, finalizing a mapping it conducted in June 2014, building links with Oxfam fundraisers, and clarifying how the KH can best contribute to growing funding for Oxfam’s VAWG/GBV work. The KH supported the preparation of Oxfam’s submissions to the “What Works” call for proposals, April-June, 2014. We will craft materials in different media to use in our work to influence donors to increase support to our work.
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