On the CUSP of Change:

Ethicalandeffectivescalingofsocialnormsprogrammingforgenderequality

CommunityforUnderstandingScaleUp(CUSP)

CUSP 2

Who we are Oursocialnormschangeforgenderequalityinitiatives,methodologiesandmaterialshavebeen/arebeingscaledupindifferentways:ü  mentionedin"bestpractices"roundupsü  donorshaverecommendedand/orprescribedthem

intheirfundingcallsü  beingusedbymanyothergroups–ofteninpositive

waysandwithinnovativeadaptions,sometimesinwaysthatareproblematic

CUSP 3

Who we are

ORGANIZATION INITIATIVE & COUNTRY OF ORIGIN TYPE OF INITIATIVE

RaisingVoices/CEDOVIP SASA!-Uganda 3-yearcommunitymobilizationprogramforVAWandHIVprevention

SalamanderTrust SteppingStones-Uganda12-weekfacilitatedpeer-grouptrainingprogramtobuildcommunicationandrelationshipskills

TostanCommunityEmpowermentProgram-Senegal

3-yearholisticparticipatoryhumanrights-basededucationprogramforadultsandadolescents.

MultisectorialpartnershipIMAGEProgramme-SouthAfrica

MicrofinanceforwomencombinedwithgenderandHIVtraining

Oxfam WeCan-Bangladesh/Nepal Largescalecampaigntomobilizechangemakers

InstituteforReproductiveHealth,Pathfinder,SavetheChildren

GREAT-Uganda Radiodrama,communitymobilization,groupactivitiesandservicelinkages

SonkeGenderJustice OneManCan-SouthAfricaCommunityEducationandmobilizationtoinvolvemeninviolenceandHIVprevention

PuntosdeEncuentroNicaragua

We’reDifferent/We’reEqual(SextoSentido)-Nicaragua

"Socialsoap"TVseries+multi-media,communitycapacity-buildingandorganizing+multi-sectorcoalitionbuilding

5 CUSP

One definition of Scale up:

“Expanding,adaptingandsustainingsuccessfulpolicies,programsorprojectsindifferentplacesandovertimetoreachagreaternumberofpeople.”

USAID

6 CUSP

Why we came together ü  Sideconversationsaboutconcernsandchallengesas

wellasexcitementaboutopportunitiesü  Interestinsharingandcollectivelyanalyzing

experiencesü  Commitmenttosynthesizeandsharelessonslearned

relatedtoethicalandeffectivescaleuppractice

7 CUSP

The context: Opportunities ü  Growingevidenceonimpactandimportanceofsocialand

gendernormschangeforadvancinggenderequalityandrelatedoutcomes

ü  Growingevidenceandknowledgeaboutcoreprinciplesandattributesofeffectivenormschangeinitiatives

ü  Donorinterestinscalingupofeffectiveinitiatives

8 CUSP

Concerns and challenges ü  NortherndonorandresearchcommunityemphasisonRCTs

leadstoexclusionand/orinvisibilityofotherpromisinginitiatives

ü  Pressuretoexpandreachandcutcostscanleadto:§  Cookie-cutterapproachthatdoesn’tadequatelytakenewcontextinto

account

§  Abbreviationormix-and-matchimplementationthatmaycompromisecoreprinciples

ü  Lesswillingnesstofundinnovationinwhatisstilladevelopingfield

9 CUSP

Scale up types

Horizontal:Geographicalexpansion,replicationàadaptationVertical:Institutionalizationviaorganizationalpoliciesandbudgets

’Grafting’:AddingcomponentstoanexistinginitiativeWholly-owned:Originaldesigners/implementersworkdirectlyinnewregion

Additive/Partnerships:Originalimplementershelpscalewithnewpartners

Multiplicative:NewimplementerstakeonworkDissemination:Makinghow-toinformationfreelyavailable

10 CUSP

Scale up processes/issues Diffusion:Plannedorspontaneous

Structure:Centralized/top-downordecentralized/bottom-up

Implementation:Standardizedorflexible/adaptive

Pace:Rapid(oftenmorepopularwithdonors)orphased/gradual

Leadership:Expert/donordrivenorparticipatory/localdemand

11 CUSP

Upsanddowns:ThecaseofSteppingStones

Characteristics•  12-weekparticipatorypeer-grouptrainingprogramtobuildcommunicationand

relationshipskills,addressgendernorms,violence,HIV,stigma•  Structuredstagesledbytrainedfacilitators(“staircase”approach)•  4differentpeergroups:adultwomen|adultmen|adolescentgirls|adolescent

boys

Scaleup•  Overlast20years,hadbeenused/disseminated/adaptedinmanyplaces,oftenin

coordinationwithcreators•  Nowin60+languagesinallcontinents•  2008RCTofmodifiedSteppingStonesinSouthAfricashowedreducedintimate

partnerviolenceandHSV2.

•  ExampleofSteppingStones(quickreviewofpositiveandnegativeexperience)

alice@salamandertrust.net|www.salamandertrust.net|www.steppingstonesfeedback.org

12 CUSP

MRC: Gambia – 300 villages

Whatwentright:

•  Intouchwithcreatorsforadaptation

•  Facilitatorswentthroughprocessfirstasparticipants,thentrained

•  Workedwithallgroups,followed“staircase”approach

•  Incorporatedlocalpriorities:condomsasfertilityprotection,involvingimamsinendorsingtheiruse,addedsessiononSRH.

•  Multiplepositiveoutcomes:reducedIPV,greatercondomacceptance,greatercross-gender&cross-generationalrespectandcollaboration.

alice@salamandertrust.net|www.salamandertrust.net|www.steppingstonesfeedback.org

DREAMS/PEPFAR – Africa Whatwentwrong:

•  Prescribedtopotentialpartnersasconditionforfunding

•  Notintouchwithcreators,orcontactedtoolatetodoadequateadaptation,andwentaheadanywaybecauseofdonorpressuretostart

•  Compromisedkeyprinciples:o  Nosystematicadaptationprocess,includingtranslationintolocallanguages.o  Reducedduration,nounderstandingofstaircasemodel,excludedimportantexerciseso  Insteadoffourpeergroups,focusonHIV-adolescentgirls,withonlypartialinvolvementofmale

partners,noadultgroupso  Inadequatefacilitatortraining

•  Didharm:o  DREAMSrequiredHIVtestingofadolescentgirls.Whilethosewhotestedpositivewereoffered

treatment,theywereexcluded,defactoexposingtheirstatus.o  FacilitatorsmistakenlythoughttheyshouldpromotetraditionalfemalebehaviortoreduceVAW

Collective CUSP experiences Pitfalls:•  Shortcutsthatcompromisecoreprinciplesandmechanisms•  Replicationwithoutadequateadaptation•  Implementersnotyetfullyonboardwithkeyprinciples•  Inadequatetrainingoffacilitators/promotersConsequences:•  Mayresultinharmtopeopleandcommunities•  Cannegativelyaffectcreatorsandcredibilityofinitiatives•  Poorinvestmentintermsofactualbangforbuck

Considerations •  Understandingwhatworksintermsofprinciplesand

mechanismsisfundamental•  ReplicationofRCT-testedinitiativesdoesn’tguaranteecost-

effectivepositiveoutcomesinothersettings•  Prescribinginterventionstopotentialgranteescanleadto

poorscale-up,lackofsuccessandawastedinvestment•  We’restilllearning:Investininnovationguidedby

knowledgeofthecoreprinciples.

BEFORE PREPARATION IMPLEMENTATION

•  Talkwithcreators&in-country

partnersaboutappropriatenessofadaptation/implementationinnewcontext

•  Understandprinciplesofcoreelementsanddiscusswhatkindofadaptationisnecessaryand/orpossibleforthissetting

•  Assesswhethertimeandresourcesareadequate(anddon’tgoforwardifnot)–includingfundingforTA

•  Createadvisorygroupforongoingengagement

•  Buildinprocess/timefornewpartnerstointernalizecoreprinciplesandcomponentsandadapt

•  Engageend-usersinadaptation,fieldtestingandadjustments

•  Investinandsupportstaffandfacilitators–personalprocesses

•  Documentongoingadaptationandimplementation

•  Continuedsupportforstaffandfacilitators

•  Monitoring,learning,adjustment,evaluation

TRUETOCOREPRINCIPLES|TRANSPARENCY|THEORY&EVIDENCE-INFORMED|ADAPT,LEARNANDEVOLVE|DONOHARM

Recommendations for ethical and effective scale up

Bad news L No cheap and quick fix

Good news J Principles and mechanisms are free

Some final thoughts

CUSP 18

Further reading

For more info: evelyn@raisingvoices.org | info@raising voices

https://tinyurl.com/CUSP2017

Thank you!