Developing research priorities on gender-based violence in higher education institutions in Africa and the Middle East

 

Gender-based violence (GBV) in higher education institutions (HEIs) is globally endemic and constitutes a major barrier to the career progression of women in this sector. There are increasing calls for governments, universities and research funders, among other institutions, to develop policies and programming to support more inclusive and safe learning and research spaces. However, little is known about the extent to which HEIs offer an effective entry point to GBV prevention in low- and middle-income countries, whether they can provide a mechanism for scale-up, or how they could link to other types of prevention interventions, including in community, education or workplace settings.

The Sexual Violence Research Initiative will work to address these gaps in the evidence base by undertaking a systematic review of GBV in HEIs in Africa and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and a consultative research priority-setting exercise to further guide evidence-building in the field. The project will analyze the extent to which HEIs offer a productive entry point to GBV prevention in Africa and MENA, and the possibilities for linkages with wider prevention and response efforts. It will also develop a set of research priorities and recommendations to support a more systematic approach to knowledge building and research in the field.