Gender-Based Violence

Prevention and Response

SDDirect is a prominent global leader in gender-based violence (GBV) programming, policy, and research, anchored in feminist principles. We partner with diverse groups and stakeholders, offering technical support, training, and accompaniment throughout programme and investment lifecycles.

We recognise the importance of integrating gender-based violence prevention and response across other aspects of our work as an accelerator for achieving gender equality.

A group of women's hands touching at the fingertips in a circle.

Graphic of an outline of three woman with two women in dark blue and one in light blue.

1/3 women and girls endure physical or sexual violence, with heightened risk for those facing discrimination based on factors like poverty, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and HIV status.

Violence against women and girls is a significant human rights and public health issue rooted in power imbalances. Its costs, both social and economic, are immense, lasting generations.

Prevention is possible through an intersectional, evidence-based, and practice-oriented approach addressing the underlying causes.

Woman holding up a sign at a protest stating "Put a stop to this violence".

Our GBV prevention & response work

Prevention and response: Holistic programming to end VAWG in various settings with an emphasis on primary prevention accompanied by response.  

GBV in emergencies: GBV prevention and response in humanitarian programming with a focus on policy, guidance, capacity strengthening and research and evaluation.  

School related GBV: Prevention and response in education spaces, with a focus on gendered and intersectional analysis.

Violence against LGBTQI+ communities: Prevention and response with a focus on intersectional analysis, research and evaluation.

Technology facilitated GBV: Prevention and response with a focus on policy, guidance, capacity strengthening and research and evaluation.

We envision a world free from all forms of gender-based violence, where all women, girls and gender diverse people can realise their rights and exercise choice and agency.

Our areas of expertise

Helpdesk services; programme leadership; technical assistance, accompaniment and training; knowledge products and guidance material; policy and programme guidance; specialist research, monitoring and evaluation on GBV.

We take a  feminist intersectional approach to our work on GBV, recognising how gender inequality intersects with other systems of oppression, discrimination and structural inequalities, including (but not limited to) those related to race, ethnicity, class, cast, homo and transphobia, ableism, ageism, nationality, immigration status, refugee and asylum seeker status, and health status.

If you would like to hear more about our work on Gender-Based Violence (GBV), please reach out to Tina Musuya, Head of the GBV Portfolio, tina.musuya@sddirect.org.uk.

Emergency Responses to Public Health Outbreaks

An analysis of current practice on how public health responses have responded to women and girls' needs and integrated a gender-based violence (GBV) prevention lens.

Costing GBViE Core Services in Humanitarian Settings

A review of work that has been completed on costing gender-based violence in emergencies (GBViE) core services.

Children Associated with Armed Forces and Armed Groups and GBViE Programming

This report specifically highlights the needs of Children Associated with Armed Forces and Armed Groups (CAAFAG) programming for girls and the specialised interventions required, particularly true in reference to girls affected by armed forces and gender-based violence.

Resource List: Caring for Children Born of Rape

A resource list on caring for children born of rape.

Rapid Response Query on Setting Up a Safe Shelter in Somalia

Summary of global standards and guidelines on setting up a safe house.

GBViE and Cash Programmes

A guide on how cash transfers can be used as a form of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) inervention.

GBV AoR Helpdesk Annual Report 2020

This annual report summarises the activity of the GBV AoR Helpdesk for the year 2020, including the type of queries the Helpdesk has responded to and the regions it has supported.

Feminist Approaches to Mental Health Care for Gender-Based Violence Survivors

This learning brief provides a preliminary overview of basic principles and approaches to specialised feminist-informed mental health treatment for survivors of gender-based violence (GBV).

Perpetrator Intervention Programmes in Emergencies

This evidence digest summarizes research on the nature and effectiveness of interventions with perpetrators of intimate partner violence (IPV) aimed at reducing future perpetration.

Ethics in Researching Gender-Based Violence in Emergencies

This learning brief seeks to capture reflections from the field and summarise some of the common challenges related to researching GBV in humanitarian settings, particularly in terms of core ethics.

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Our work in this area

What Works to Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls
The ‘What Works: Impact at Scale’ programme is a seven-year investment by the UK government on prevention of violence against women and girls, focused on taking evidence-based pilot approaches to scale. SDDirect works in a consortium partnership led by IRC with Raising Voices, CARE International UK…
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GBV AoR Helpdesk
SDDirect manages the GBV AoR Helpdesk (Gender-Based Violence Area of Responsibility Helpdesk), which provides a unique research and technical advice service for all Gender-Based Violence in Emergencies (GBViE) practitioners. This is a free and confidential research and advice service for…
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Stopping Abuse and Female Exploitation, Zimbabwe – SAFE Communities
Stopping Abuse and Female Exploitation (SAFE) is working to prevent violence against women and girls in Zimbabwe, including a focus on reaching those most at risk of violence.
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Addressing GBVH: Emerging good practices for the private sector
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and CDC Group Plc jointly commissioned SDDirect to develop guidance for the private sector on addressing gender-based violence and harassment (GBVH), from 2019 to 2020.
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Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Helpdesk
The Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Helpdesk was a research and advice service for the Department for International Development (DFID) and all other UK Government departments.
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Madhya Pradesh Impact Evaluation of the Safe Cities Initiative
SDDirect led the three-year UK Department for International Development (DFID) funded impact evaluation of the Madhya Pradesh Safe Cities Initiative (2012-16) together with Columbia University and local research partner New Concept Information Systems. The Safe Cities Initative aimed to tackle…
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Malawi Violence Against Women and Girls Prevention and Response
The Malawi Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Prevention Programme was funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID) and delivered by Coffey in consortium with Social Development Direct and Plan International.
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Latest news and resources on this topic

Exploring the links between flooding and violence against women and girls in the Eastern and Southern African region

This report examines how flooding, induced by climate change, disproportionately affects women and girls and increases their risk of experiencing GBV. The report has a particular focus on the Eastern and Southern Africa region. It identifies effective emergency preparedness and response strategies…

Prioritizing Safety and Support in Digital Reporting of Gender-Based Violence

This briefing note explores the complexities of using digital tools to make and collect reports of GBV cases. It is written for anyone engaged in developing, working with, or overseeing digital platforms for GBV, including managers, decision-makers, technology developers, and GBV practitioners. The…

Evidence for Action: What Works to Prevent Conflict-Related Sexual Violence

This brief aims to help policymakers understand ‘what works’. It is based on a high-level synthesis of existing evidence and practice on conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) and wider violence against women and girls (VAWG) in conflict affected settings, complemented by consultations with…

Evidence for Action: What Works to Prevent Conflict-Related Sexual Violence

This report incorporates findings from a scoping report by the Ending Violence against Women and Children Helpdesk on preventing conflict-related sexual violence

Ending Violence Against LGBTQI+ People: Global evidence and emerging insights into what works

This brief presents some of the existing evidence on violence against LGBTQI+ people, and what has been tried to prevent this violence.

Ending Violence Against LGBTQI+ People: Global evidence and emerging insights into what works

This report provides an overview of the evidence globally of the everyday reality, as well as identifies emerging interventions and practice in preventing violence against LGBTQI+ people.

GBV Against Climate Change Activists

This report summarises the evidence exploring the prevalence of GBV against climate change activists and environmental human rights defenders (EHRDs), its impact on climate and environmental activism, and efforts to address GBV in this context.

How Development Actors Can Support Safe and Effective Response to GBV When Emergencies Occur

This briefing note is targeted to development actors working on GBV who increasingly may be facing humanitarian emergencies. When working on GBV, many of the interventions to mitigate it and support survivors, families and communities are the same in development and conflict settings. Nevertheless…

Tip Sheet: Ensuring Attention to GBV in Anticipatory Action

This tip sheet, which updates and provides a summary of a longer report on GBV and anticipatory action, is meant to serve as a primer on anticipatory action for GBV actors and those supporting GBV risk mitigation interventions. The research query on GBV and anticipatory action remains an…

Tip sheet: Effective and Supportive GBV Technical Assistance Visits

This tip sheet is intended to provide practical and short guidance on conducting technical assistance support visits. It is aimed at new GBV Technical Advisors (TA) as well as existing TAs who may find it a useful reminderof key information. The focus of this resources is on in-person site visits…

Annotated Bibliography: Collective Care Processes and Practices

Collective care is a strategy that can be used by gender-based violence (GBV) programmers, researchers, activists, and other GBV specialists to sustain each other in work to prevent and respond to GBV in emergencies. This annotated bibliography provides an overview of relevant literature and…

GBV Risk Mitigation - An Essential Approach to Meeting Core Humanitarian Priorities

Written primarily for non-GBV specialists—those who work in sectors of humanitarian response other than GBV—this briefing note begins with a review of what GBV risk mitigation entails and how GBV risk mitigation supports good humanitarian programming. It then looks at two thematic priorities within…

Tip Sheet: Collective Care

This tip sheet introduces the concept of collective care, emphasizing its importance for individuals working on gender-based violence (GBV) in humanitarian emergencies. Collective care involves groups taking communal responsibility for each member's well-being and is seen as a feminist,…

Humanitarian Financing for Women's Organisations and Groups

This report identifies a range of funding opportunities for national and local women's rights organizations to help prevent and respond to gender-based violence in emergencies (GBViE).

Evidence Review: A Summary of the Links between Intimate Partner Violence, Military Personnel and Veterans

This evidence review synthesizes the available literature and data relating to linkages between intimate partner violence (IPV) and military active-duty personnel and veterans in relation to their perpetration and experiences of intimate partner violence. As part of this review the GBV AoR…

Effective Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning in GBViE Programming

This note reviews the basics of Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) and describes some of the ethical considerations crucial to effective monitoring and evaluation of GBV programs. It summarizes approaches for ensuring participation and leadership of women and girls in MEL processes. It then…

GBV AoR Helpdesk Annual Report 2023

This annual report summarises the activity of the GBV AoR Helpdesk for the year 2023, including the type of queries the Helpdesk has responded to and the regions it has supported.

Stopping Abuse and Female Exploitation (SAFE) Programme, Zimbabwe - Introductory Slides

This resource provides an overview of the Stopping Abuse and Female Exploitation Programme in Zimbabwe.

How to prevent GBV in Emergencies

Gender-based violence is preventable and there is more evidence than ever before about what works. In recognition of the 16 Days of Activism against GBV, this latest infographic from the GBV AoR Helpdesk brings together key strategies for preventing GBV in emergencies.

Annotated Bibliography: Integrating GBV Risk Mitigation in Programming and in Foster Care Procedures for Adolescent Girls on the Move in Europe

This annotated bibliography includes key resources and guidance related to integrating GBV risk mitigation in programming and in foster care procedures for adolescent girls on the move in Europe, with specific focus on Italy. It also looks at relevant experiences and best practices related to this…