Abstract
While there are a growing number of interventions and evaluations of programmes aimed at changing gender norms and violence against women and girls, there remains a dearth of documentation outlining the challenges faced in conducting these interventions and evaluations, particularly in traditional and low literacy settings. The Do Kadam Barabari Ki Ore (Two Steps Towards Equality) programme sought to understand what works to prevent violence against women and girls in Bihar, India. This paper draws insights from process evaluation data. It describes promising features and challenges of implementation, and characteristics which weaken the potential effects of complex, community based, social sector programmes that aim to change deeply entrenched gender power hierarchies. We drew on the Medical Research Council framework for process evaluation in analysing our process evaluation data, and focus on mechanisms of impact, and factors inhibiting programme success, including contextual and implementation challenges. The paper also outlines measures that may help overcome observed challenges and areas that require modifications and/or further investigation. The programme experienced several challenges. These included contextual issues, such as the lack of leadership skills of those delivering the intervention and the gap between expected responsibilities and activities of government platforms and reality. Implementation challenges were encountered in reaching men and boys, younger women and the community at large and ensuring their regular attendance; and in maintaining the fidelity of the intervention activities. Our insights call for an evidence-supported dialogue on these challenges and how best to anticipate and address them.
Highlights
India has a range of policies and programmes to empower women and reduce violence
Empower locally elected representatives to make efforts to reduce violence against women and girls, and alcohol abuse in their communities; build their capacity to engage their communities on these issues; and thereby, to promote egalitarian gender role attitudes and reduce the experience of marital violence among women in the community
Panchayati Raj Institute (PRI) level: 3-day training workshop, fortnightly training sessions (14) over 7 months to PRI members; Community level: Following training, PRI representatives, with project support: (a) held sensitisation sessions in their wards to build awareness among community members on issues addressed during the training and (b) community-wide campaigns and events, including street theatre, on ending gender discrimination, violence against women and girls, and alcohol abuse. 7 months
Summary
India has a range of policies and programmes to empower women and reduce violence. The Population Council, together with partners, the Centre for Catalysing Change and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and with support from UKaid, implemented and evaluated a package of interventions to better understand what works to prevent violence against women and girls in Bihar, incorporating evidence-based best practices from India and globally. Known as Do Kadam Barabari Ki Ore (Two Steps Towards Equality), was guided by Heise’s revised ecological framework.[2] Factors relating to the woman that have been consistently shown across studies and settings to increase the risk of victimisation include: attitudes justifying non-egalitarian gender roles and violence against women; and lack of social support, agency, access to resources, and participation in groups.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
