The Children and Violence Evaluation Challenge initiative is based on the following 3 key components:
1) Grant programme;
2) Capacity building;
3) Communication & advocacy.
The interaction between the three components of the Children and Violence Evaluation Challenge programme will be the key for the success of the initiative.
Although the primary aim of the Fund is to fund rigorous evaluations of violence prevention and child protection interventions through the grant programme, it is clear that the evaluation exercise will require a close collaboration between the evaluators and the organization implementing the intervention to be evaluated. This collaboration will be critical for the success of the initiative and will be an opportunity for the organizations involved to learn from each other. This will result in an increased capacity of the organizations working in the field of violence prevention and child protection to recognize the potential of rigorous evaluations, learn about the range of methodologies available and develop an appreciation of how to access, interpret and use the evidence.
In addition to this, it is clear that changes in policies and practices can only be achieved if the findings of the evaluations are effectively communicated to target audiences and utilized to improve the effectiveness of programmes. The value of research is not maximized, if not used to inform programmes. In the same vein, the effectiveness of programmes is not maximized, if not informed by evidence.
It is only when researchers and practitioners come together, when programmes are based on evidence and when evidence is used to advocate changes in policies and programmes, that the a world free from violence against children becomes more likely to materialize.
