Development Marketplace: Innovations to Address Gender-based A partnership between the World Bank Group and Research Initiative

A family in Rwanda. Plan International España

INTERVENTIONS TO REDUCE INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE

One of the most common forms of men’s violence against women, intimate partner violence (IPV) occurs in all countries. Although women can be violent in relationships with men and violence is found in same-sex partnerships, the overwhelming burden of IPV is borne by women at the hands of men.

IPV includes physical aggression, with a multitude of adverse targeted to women – could put psychological , forced physical and mental health women at risk, as their husbands intercourse and sexual coercion outcomes. could inflict violence against them and controlling behaviors to take control of cash or as a including economic violence and Several research interventions backlash against a change in power . IPV both funded by the Development dynamics. reflects and reinforces underlying Marketplace: Innovations to gender-based inequalities. Address GBV show promise at The International Food Policy Exposure to IPV has been linked preventing and reducing the Research Institute undertook a effects of IPV. study that addressed two key gaps in the evidence base. First, there were no rigorous quantitative CASH TRANSFERS & research studies on cash transfers BEHAVIOR CHANGE and IPV in South Asia, as most COMMUNICATION evidence came from Latin America. Second, there were no rigorous RESULTS studies of what happens after programs end. Cash transfer programs have become an increasingly utilized The study built on a program that approach to poverty reduction in provided cash or food transfers to Police officers in Peru.University of Lima low and middle-income countries. poor rural women in Bangladesh, There have been fears that these with or without intensive nutrition programs – particularly when behavior change communication Development Marketplace: Innovations to Address Gender-based Violence

(BCC). The BCC was focused The research studies a national research partners will examine on improving knowledge and pre-marriage course targeted if the program has an impact on practices in terms of infant and at those who will get married. emotional, physical and sexual young child feeding in a gender- This covers topics such as IPV, and allow for a more nuanced sensitive way that proved far more violence, reproductive health, understanding of how the program broadly transformative for women. communication skills, and rights. might help couples create a more The researchers are also looking at equitable relationship and reduce The researchers found no a nine-month mentoring program violence. evidence of increased IPV – which that focuses on following up with is consistent with the global new couples, especially during evidence, but notable because the their first pregnancy. WORKING WITH THE study took place in Bangladesh, POLICE where there was an evidence gap. They found suggestive evidence EXPLORING WORK IN PROGRESS that all interventions reduced IPV USING ECONOMIC In Peru, the police force has during the program. And they developed the Home Visits found clear evidence that only the INTERVENTIONS Program, in which women police combination of transfers and BCC WORK IN PROGRESS officers visit victims of IPV. The caused sustained reductions in IPV, University of Lima will monitor with 26% less physical IPV than in Despite an increasing evidence 1,600 women to study the police the control or transfers-only group, base, the exact impact of home visit program’s impact. at 6-10 months post-program. economic empowerment programs on violence – and particularly They will train police officers about gender roles, stereotypes, This suggests that cash transfer on IPV – is still unknown. Send discrimination, and the causes, programs can reduce IPV even a Cow and research partner the factors, types and manifestations in conservative settings, deeper Global Women’s Institute are impacts are likely to be obtained undertaking a two-year research of gender-based violence. They when a cash transfer is combined study to examine how economic will identify women at a higher risk with a gender-sensitive BCC interventions work to reduce IPV of being victims of violence again, program, and that these impacts in target communities in Western who will receive additional police can be sustained. Kenya. visits.

TARGETING NEWLY FOSTERING MORE Development Marketplace: MARRIED COUPLES EGALITARIAN Innovations to Address Gender- Based Violence funds ground- WORK IN PROGRESS RELATIONSHIPS breaking GBV research in low- and middle-income countries across With partners, the Try Center for WORK IN PROGRESS the globe. It is a partnership Training and Education is studying The University of Ibadan and the whether a primary prevention between the World Bank Group International Center for Research program among new married and the Sexual Violence Research on Women are testing a program couples in Jordan can increase Initiative. Over four years, the in Ibadan that aims to increase knowledge and attitudes about partnership has funded research women’s participation in household gender norms and violence, projects in 28 countries. decision-making by fostering strengthen communication and more egalitarian relationships in relationship skills in newly married young couples aged 18-35. The couples and reduce IPV.

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