When discussing the measurement of sexual- and gender-based violence (SGBV) prevention in humanitarian settings, reactions often polarize around two main arguments: that measurement is impossible (“How can we measure what hasn’t happened?”), or that prevalence alone signals success (“Do you have data showing decreased perpetration?”). Both perspectives overlook the complexity of SGBV prevention – and the valuable insights gained from measuring it through alternative approaches.
In this post, Zuleyka Piniella, ICRC’s Global Coordinator for the Prevention of Sexual Violence Programme, and Jessica Lenz, Senior Protection Advisor for InterAction, explore new ways to capture the nuanced impacts of prevention efforts, moving beyond prevalence data to understand what truly drives change.