ObjectivesFund scope and theory of change
Fund scope
Worryingly, conservatism and hostility towards women’s rights agendas are on the rise in several parts of the world. This has led to backlash and/or the reversal of hard-won gains with women’s civil society organizations and human rights defenders face unprecedented crackdowns by legislative powers on foreign funding or restrictions on association. Or anti-protest and gag laws, legal tools for criminalizing online dissent, and blocking citizen access to social media are cemented in place.
The Spotlight Initiative points the torch toward the shadows, supporting comprehensive approaches to preventing, and responding to, violence against women and girls (VAWG) at all points on the spectrum. Building on lessons learned, the Spotlight Initiative supports global and national policy reforms that uphold the rights of women and girls, as well as innovative and sustainable solutions that end discrimination and VAWG in the workplace, public and political life, intimate relationships, and community spaces.
Because violence against women and girls is complex and layered, several funded projects address intersecting forms of marginalization and discrimination. Eliminat
ing VAWG/harmful practices requires, from the outset, ongoing political commitment at the highest levels of government to guarantee enduring action. Countries supported by the Spotlight Initiative are encouraged to provide matching domestic resources, while Heads of State and senior leaders are invited to champion the cause.
The success of the Initiative relies on unwavering drive, strategic coordination, active and inclusive engagement, and timely sharing of knowledge. Most fundamental, perhaps, is making visible the causes and forms of violence that exist in countless communities around the world—your town, their village, my city.
Theory of change
The Spotlight Initiative, with dedicated large-scale resources, comprehensive design and focus, and an evidence-based programmatic theory of change, creates a momentum for intensified action in strengthening legislation and administrative policies, building institutional capacities, delivering accessible violence prevention services, and collecting, disaggregating and sharing data. Evidence and rights based, programmes launched under Spotlight strengthen multi-sector responses that help us bring about an end to one of the most pervasive human rights violations. Funded action addresses the underlying causes of VAWG/harmful practices, including discriminatory social and socio-cultural norms, stereotypes, and unequal power relations.
A foundational aspect of the Initiative is the 2030 Agenda principle of “leave no one behind.” Outcomes matter most when they reach the most marginalized women and girls, including those with disabilities, the elderly, from ethnic minority or indigenous groups, living in poverty, with HIV/AIDS, living in rural areas, from underrepresented LGBTQAI+ groups, and survivors of violence or harmful practices.
Eliminating VAWG/harmful practices requires shifting social norms within communities and a complete reform of national, regional, and local institutions. Although significant changes take time, all stakeholders are tasked with identifying short, medium and long-term objectives that generate the transformational change envisioned by the SDGs and the Spotlight Initiative.
In this respect, civil society is the primary stakeholder of the Spotlight Initiative as their engagement is crucial in upholding the movements and groups that have made great strides in advancing progress on ending VAWG. Guided by a human-rights based approach, civil society organizations are partners of the Initiative in outreach, advocacy, implementation, and monitoring. A national and grass-roots presence makes these organizations well positioned for the Fund to broker success.
> $55M 
$55M - $25M
$25M - $5M
< $5M
