J-PAL LAC government partnerships: Reducing gender-based violence

Our work at J-PAL Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) is made possible by the close collaboration with and dedication of many governments across the region who recognize the importance of using data and evidence to improve social programs and public policy. Over the past fifteen years, we have engaged and worked with more than twenty government agencies throughout the region. We will translate some lessons of this invaluable work in a new blog series titled “J-PAL LAC Government Partnerships.” Stay tuned for our forthcoming blog posts in the following months.

Gender-based violence (GBV) manifests itself through psychological, economic, physical, or sexual aggression against women. Femicide—the gender-based murder of a woman or girl—is the most extreme manifestation. Worldwide, every day, 140 women and girls lose their lives at the hands of their partner or a close relative. In 2023, Brazil marked the highest number of femicides recorded since this crime was defined in 2015. In Mexico, 39 percent of women who have or have had a partner relationship reported having experienced some situation of violence throughout their relationship in 2021. Using and generating evidence to fight gender-based violence is urgent.

J-PAL Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) is continuously working for gender equality in LAC as a priority. In 2022, this work was reinforced thanks to a partnership with Co-Impact and Community Jameel, which helped develop new alliances with local governments to fight poverty and gender inequality in Brazil and Mexico. This blog post highlights how these new government partnerships helped promote gender equality and lessons from this work.

Promoting financial inclusion and economic agency for female entrepreneurs

One strategy to reduce intimate partner violence is to increase women’s access to financial resources, as economic dependence on their partners often prevents women from reporting GBV to authorities. In Pernambuco, a state in Northeastern Brazil, this is the second main reason women reported—fear is the first. In the same state, women often turn to entrepreneurship due to barriers in the formal job market, with the number of female micro-entrepreneurs growing by 26.3 percent between 2020 and 2021. Despite having default rates 13.2 percent lower than men, women face systemic challenges, such as 6 percent higher interest rates and receiving only 32.3 percent of credit for micro-enterprises.

To address these issues, the Recife Women's Secretariat, in the capital of Pernambuco, J-PAL LAC staff, and J-PAL invited researcher Fernanda Estevan (São Paulo School of Economics) have collaborated to find ways to support women who start businesses out of necessity. They are currently designing a new pilot study. The results will help the Secretariat design policies to enhance access to credit and foster financial inclusion and independence for female entrepreneurs, especially those with greater social vulnerability. If you want to implement or adapt this program in your government organization, write to Ariana Britto, J-PAL LAC Policy Manager, at [email protected]. 

Strengthening public programs and policies to reduce gender violence

Promoting gender equality requires tailoring strategies to the unique realities of each region and the inclusion of various stakeholders. To help achieve this, since 2024, J-PAL LAC has formed a tripartite partnership with the Alagoas Secretariat for Women and Human Rights, as well as the Geni Institute, a non-governmental organization dedicated to promoting gender equality. The primary goal of this partnership is to foster a culture of using evidence to shape public policies for women. In 2024, J-PAL LAC members and Geni Institute conducted several training programs for Secretariat civil servants. The main topics included the importance of evaluation, the theory of change, and the creation and use of monitoring and evaluation tools in public policies for women. Some of the workshops were also attended by staff from the Women's Secretariat of Recife.

As we worked to institutionalize the generation and use of evidence in Peru, with the Ministery of Women Affairs and Innovations for Poverty Action, we are now working with the local Planning Secretariat to map women-related policies. Additionally, we will organize support data for violence victims and update protocols and forms. These efforts will culminate in the creation of the Women's Policy Observatory, which will help the Secretariat formulate more effective strategies based on evidence to promote female empowerment and reduce GBV. 

Implementing a pilot on gender attitudes in Mexico City

Prevention programs aimed at men to reduce intimate partner violence and prevent femicides have been evaluated in recent years. J-PAL affiliated professors have tested some programs in Liberia and also in Peru. Since 2020, J-PAL LAC has been partnering with the Mexico City Women's Secretariat (SEMUJERES) to reduce intimate partner violence and prevent femicide, also supported by an NGO specialized in working with men to promote attitude changes in favor of gender equality and prevent intimate partner violence—Género y Desarrollo, A.C. One of the experiences included designing an innovative pilot to evaluate the impact of a primary prevention program aimed at the male population of Mexico City. The main goal was to transform and challenge harmful gender norms and dynamics that influence emotional and affective relationships. 

The “Acá entre Compas” pilot offered voluntary men's workshops. More than 120 men participated in 22 community centers located in different parts of the city. The centers were chosen based on variables such as the prevalence of reported gender-based violence, socioeconomic vulnerability, and social marginalization. 
 

If you want to implement or adapt this program in your government organization, write Vianney Fernández, J-PAL LAC Policy Manager, at [email protected]. 

Government partnerships: Lessons learned and opportunities

In addition to the goals achieved, our partnerships in the LAC region have provided valuable lessons on key aspects to consider when promoting a culture of evidence use and generation to advance gender equality. Some can be applied when working with governments, while others are relevant to approaching such complex issues.

• Identifying the organization's core needs is key to understanding the potential outcomes of the partnership. This way, innovation proposals become more relevant to the government as they address its most pressing challenges.
• Identify an evidence champion early on (i.e., a decision-maker in the organization who knows the importance of using rigorous evidence). With a champion, conversations with departments that may be reluctant to adopt new approaches are possible, which opens the path to institutionalizing evidence generation and use.
• In partnerships with governments, it is necessary to ensure that innovations and improvements to existing public policies emerge from a cooperative process between the parties involved. Therefore, all departments related to the launch of an innovation or the modification of a program should participate in discussions with researchers and staff.
• Recognizing the differences between researchers and the government's needs—and finding practical ways to keep activities moving forward until their interests align—can open new opportunities to strengthen the partnership. 
• Advancing gender equality innovations requires collaboration among diverse stakeholders, sometimes with indirect connections. For example, workshops in community centers often involve other departments. It’s crucial to regularly assess commitment and alignment to ensure a unified objective, and all actors must share the understanding that a gender lens should be integrated throughout design and implementation.

Our ongoing partnerships in Brazil and Mexico stress the role of evidence use and generation in paving the way for long-lasting gender equality. In addition to the lessons above, the diversity of work undertaken through each of our partnerships highlights the complexity of the path ahead. Since the end of last year, J-PAL LAC has been collaborating with policymakers, researchers, and civil society organizations to build a community of practice. We hope this effort sparks the interest of multiple stakeholders, allowing us to strengthen and expand a vibrant and engaged community working together to chart new paths towards fair and equitable societies where everyone can reach their full potential.