Interrogating the Theory of Change for a Family-Based Violence Prevention Program in Nepal Open Access
Walch, Ana Gabriela (Spring 2021)
Published
Abstract
Background: Gender-based violence (GBV) is a human-rights violation that affects individuals and communities worldwide. More research is needed to expand the evidence-base about what works to prevent GBV from a family-centered approach. This study seeks to interrogate the Theory of Change (TOC) of the Integrated Programme for Strengthening Security and Justice: Strengthening Access to Holistic, Gender Responsive, and Accountable Justice (IPSSJ-SAHAJ) project in Nepal to examine activated and non-activated pathways hypothesized.
Methods: This study is a qualitative secondary analysis of the IPSSJ-SAHAJ family-centered approach project. Data consists of 40 in-depth interviews with family members attending the project’s family-based programming. A modified Grounded Theory approach was used for their analysis. The project’s TOC and data represented in the interviews was used to guide the development of themes for thick descriptions. Three thick descriptions were written including: women and girls, families, and communities as the themes. Analytic comparisons examined activated and non-activated pathways in the TOC, and similarities and differences by family role.
Results: Traditional gender norms are a main driver of GBV in Nepal. Tolerance toward child marriage, discrimination against female education, and decision-making by a singular head of household is decreasing. Some participants are intervening in fights between community members or couples and against child marriages. Noticeable changes within families include changes in decision-making and physical or emotional violence. Many families see themselves as role models for others. It is unclear whether communities are actively challenging gender norms.
Discussion: The opportunity to interrogate a TOC and highlight the pathways that are changing is informative to the project and to similar programs that have a multi-component family-centered approach. There is a lack of data supporting the assumption in the project’s TOC; a recommendation is to align the endline data collection with this aspect of the TOC. The TOC for this project does not address some of the key mechanisms of change detected. It is important for future initiatives to ensure that the TOC is robust, comprehensive, and updated throughout analysis. Attentiveness to the role modeling aspect of violence prevention could prove useful to understanding the spread of norms change.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Introduction.................................................1
Chapter 2: Literature Review..........................................3
Chapter 3: Methods.......................................................8
Chapter 4: Results.......................................................14
Chapter 5: Discussion..................................................24
Chapter 6: Implications and Recommendations.............27
Appendix....................................................................28
References..................................................................33
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