THE PROBLEM

The scope and diversity of GBV programming in emergencies is steadily on the rise. However, the evaluation of GBV interventions mainly focuses on outputs, with little information about the quality or impact of these services. Evaluating impact is challenging; practitioners are constrained by time, funding, skills, and the sector lacks a clear overarching framework for measuring the impact of humanitarian response to GBV. Having better data on the impact of GBV interventions can provide a stronger evidence base for ‘what works’ within GBV programming and support replication of effective services at scale. While knowing whether a GBV programme was successful is valuable, the development of real-time evaluations is also needed to give programme coordinators the ability to adapt and improve their services while still active on the ground.

Despite increased efforts and improved understanding, creating a stronger evidence base remains a key priority for the global GBV community. Evidence is essential for effective humanitarian programming and achieving improved outcomes for crisis-affected populations. In a resource-poor sector like GBV, better evidence has the potential to unlock funding and act as a powerful advocacy tool.

THE APPROACH

TAKING A LOCAL PERSPECTIVE ON MEASURING THE IMPACT OF GBV PROGRAMMING

Building evidence on the impact of GBV programmes is a complex problem. A fully developed understanding requires both global and more local perspectives to be heard.

Core to Elrha’s commitments as a member of the GBV Call to Action is our ambition to make a significant contribution to this critical, persistent problem faced by the GBV community. Our strategic approach includes exploring problem recognition and ideation at a more local and operational level, and engages with those familiar with, and active in, these settings, for example through the Cluster system. See our HIF Strategy 2018-2020.

THE CHALLENGE

To collectively review and analyse the practices used to measure the impact of GBV programmes in one specific humanitarian context and identify tangible opportunities for innovation.

Key Output: selected consortia will be expected to generate a Lessons Learned and Opportunities document, that will:

1. Review and analyse ongoing Impact Measurement practices in one specific humanitarian context

• Set out the key challenges to measuring the impact of GBV programmes in that context
• Outline the key challenges to translating data into better programming
• Include the practices that are successfully measuring the impact of GBV programmes

2. Identify up to 3 innovation opportunities for Impact Measurement of GBV within the context identified

• Present and document up to 3 innovation opportunities
• Present succinctly the suggested approach for exploring these opportunities

Where this Call fits in our Innovation Lifecycle

This Funding Call aims to support the critical first stage of our innovation lifecycle – Recognition.

Our definition: ‘Recognition of a specific problem or opportunity. This stage involves identifying a problem or opportunity to respond to, collecting and assessing readily available knowledge on the issue and context, diagnosing root causes and properly framing the challenge.’

Note, this is not a Call to test/pilot an innovation or innovative approach. We are looking for proposals that show a thorough exploration of this critical problem, to help build a baseline for existing GBV programming, and through this problem exploration identify opportunities for innovation that are contextually and culturally appropriate.

BACKGROUND

Our Humanitarian Innovation Programme aims to improve outcomes for people affected by humanitarian crises by identifying, nurturing and sharing more effective, innovative and scalable solutions. The HIF started working with others to address the complex challenge of GBV in humanitarian settings in 2015, with initial funding from Sida, EU Humanitarian Aid, and UK Department for International Development (DFID) and guidance from our group of technical experts.

Our first step was to conduct and widely disseminate an Innovation Gap Analysis report which applied a unique innovation lens to the problems facing this sector. The report investigates approaches and efforts to best address the significant remaining challenges in GBV in emergencies. It offers fresh guidance on tangible areas for innovation for GBV practitioners globally to enhance their effectiveness and accelerate impact. It highlights four key Challenge areas faced by the GBV in emergencies community where innovation might provide solutions and forms a solid baseline for our work on GBV, guiding and informing our targeted innovation Challenges and grant funding.

Encouraged by our group of technical experts as well as through consultations with key external stakeholders, we have begun with the first Challenge area identified in this report: Measuring the impact of GBV programmes and developing real-time monitoring tools.  We are currently supporting three promising early-stage innovation projects exploring various avenues to improve impact measurement in GBV.

The HIF GBV Gap Analysis report highlights the importance of working with local communities to ensure GBV services are accessible to all and developing context-specific roadmaps to help practitioners meet GBV Minimum Standards. A contextually sensitive approach is key to taking innovation to scale. Our Accelerating the Journey to Scale programme highlights the importance of designing solutions with affected populations for bigger impact and sustainability. It is important to ground problem recognition and ideation at a more local level, and engage with those familiar with, and active in, these settings, for example through the Cluster system. The HIF has a strong strategic focus on local and operational engagement for effective innovation and works collaboratively with country focused innovation partners such as the Response Innovation Lab, a DEPP Innovation labs, and regional network ADRRN.