Strengthening Skills for Research on GBV
18th to 22nd June and November 2007, Nairobi, Kenya

Goal of the Course

Strengthening capacity among Network members to participate in research activities on GBV.

Specific Objectives for Participants

• Articulate a critical understanding of issues of gender and gender based violence
• Demonstrate an understanding of violence against women as a public health issue
• Demonstrate an understanding how to develop a research strategy
• Demonstrate an understanding of the different methods used in violence against women with an emphasis of the use of epidemiology in such studies
• Demonstrate an understanding of how the research can be used in advocacy
• Demonstrate an understanding of the complexities and awareness of the challenges of doing research on gender violence

Course Content

The course was drawn from Researching Violence Against Women: A practical guide for researchers and activists, written by Mary Ellsberg and Lori Heise. It involved presentations of theoretical concepts and practical, skill-building sessions. View the guide here.

Training Methodology

The methodology employed was experiential and participatory, which are the best methods to promote adult learning. This gave participants an opportunity to use practical examples from their own professions and personal encounters. The training was delivered in two modules, in July and November, 2007.  The group participated in:

• Group work exercises, followed by group presentations and discussions, were used to trigger participants’ recall of experiences from their work and personal lives.
• Case studies and scenarios were used to facilitate discussion and application of research tools and designs employed, helping participants to see the practicality of the course.
• Lectures accompanied by presentations were used for the theoretical aspects of the course.
• References to the manual were used for group work and assignments.

The training was attended by 23 participants from Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania and Uganda. View the full list of participants here.

A pictorial of the training will be posted soon.