This qualitative research assessed the effectiveness of the strategies adopted by four key NGOs in addressing Violence Against Women (VAW) within the Ghanaian context. VAW is a worldwide pandemic that permeates across all geographical boundaries and impacts all people and societies regardless of culture, class, ethnicity, age, race, socio-economic status, political leaning, or religion. It is a daily phenomenon faced by humanity from the household level to national levels. Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have devised several means of curbing VAW but the menace still persist.
The study targeted a total of fifty two respondents comprising; eight personnel from the four selected NGOs; twelve state actors; fourteen non-state actors and eighteen direct beneficiaries through the usage of in-depth (informal) and key informant interviews, semi-structured questionnaires, direct field observations as well as desk top review of official documents. The study found out that, all four NGOs utilised among others, five key strategies in tackling the menace of VAW in Ghana and these are awareness creation, lobbying and advocacy, community mobilisation, activism and networking, training/capacity building and service provision. The study results further indicated that, notwithstanding the efficacy of the strategies deployed by the NGOs, there were some challenges that confronted the NGOs in their fight against VAW. Notable among them were the lack of willingness on the part of victims of VAW to report and further pursue perpetrators of VAW, financial constraints facing the NGOs as well as state actors and lack of well-coordinated approach on the part of all stakeholders in their effort to eradicate VAW in Ghana.
The study made a number of recommendations, including collaborative efforts of all stakeholders to fight VAW, adequate resourcing and funding of the NGOs by both government and donor agencies. Also recommended is the intensification of the education on the unlawfulness of VAW and that, any culprits apprehended would be punished by law. These and many others will serve as measures to improve the effectiveness of the strategies employed by the NGOs in their fight against the cancerous menace of VAW in Ghana.
Table of Contents
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Literature review
- 2.1 Violence and Gender Based Violence Definitions
- 2.2 Theoretical framework
- 2.3 Empirical Literature
- 2.4 Overview of Operational Activities of NGOs in Addressing VAW
- 2.5 Evaluating the Effectiveness of Strategies Employed by NGOs in Combating VAW in Ghana
- 2.6 Brief Background of the Four Selected NGOs
- 3. Materials and methods
- 3.1 Research Design and Approach
- 3.2 Sample Size
- 3.3 Sampling Techniques
- 3.4 Data Handling and Analysis
- 3.5 Ethical Consideration
- 4. Empirical results
- 4.1 Background Information of Respondents
- 4.2 The Role Played by the Four NGO's In Combating VAW in Ghana
- 4.3 Evaluating or assessing the effectiveness of interventional initiatives/strategies of the four NGO's in combating VAW in Ghana
- 4.4 Challenges Faced by The Four NGO's in Combating Violence against Women in Ghana
- 5. Conclusion
- 5.1 Recommendations and Policy implications
Objectives and Key Themes
This research assesses the effectiveness of strategies used by four key NGOs in Ghana to combat Violence Against Women (VAW). It aims to understand the roles these NGOs play, the strategies they employ, their engagement with survivors, and the challenges they face. The study also seeks to identify best practices and inform policy recommendations.
- Effectiveness of NGO strategies in addressing VAW in Ghana
- Challenges faced by NGOs in combating VAW
- The role of NGOs in VAW interventions
- Best practices and policy implications
- The prevalence and impact of VAW in the Ghanaian context
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: This chapter establishes the global context of Violence Against Women (VAW) as a pervasive human rights violation, citing statements from Kofi Annan and Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka. It highlights the devastating physical, psychological, and economic consequences of VAW, drawing on numerous studies to illustrate its widespread impact and the urgent need for intervention. The chapter introduces the study's focus on Ghana and the role of NGOs in addressing VAW, emphasizing the gap in research regarding the effectiveness of their strategies.
2. Literature review: This chapter delves into the definitions of violence and gender-based violence, emphasizing how definitions shape solutions and the visibility of the issue. It explores theoretical frameworks and empirical literature on VAW, providing an overview of NGO activities in addressing the problem in Ghana. It also analyzes the effectiveness of the employed strategies and briefly introduces the four selected NGOs that are the focus of the study.
3. Materials and methods: This section details the research design and methodology employed in the study. It outlines the sample size, sampling techniques used, data handling and analysis procedures, and ethical considerations. The qualitative approach, including in-depth interviews, semi-structured questionnaires, and document reviews, is explained, offering a transparent account of the research process.
4. Empirical results: This chapter presents the findings of the research. It analyzes background information on the respondents and assesses the roles of the four NGOs in combating VAW in Ghana. It critically evaluates the effectiveness of their strategies and identifies the key challenges faced in addressing the issue. This synthesis of data provides a comprehensive understanding of the situation on the ground.
Keywords
Ghana, Non-governmental organizations (NGOs), Strategies, Violence against women (VAW), Gender-based violence (GBV), Effectiveness, Challenges, Interventions, Policy implications.
Frequently Asked Questions: Effectiveness of NGO Strategies in Combating Violence Against Women in Ghana
What is the main focus of this research?
This research assesses the effectiveness of strategies used by four key NGOs in Ghana to combat Violence Against Women (VAW). It aims to understand their roles, employed strategies, engagement with survivors, and the challenges they face. The study also seeks to identify best practices and inform policy recommendations.
What topics are covered in the literature review?
The literature review covers definitions of violence and gender-based violence, theoretical frameworks, empirical literature on VAW, an overview of NGO activities in Ghana, an analysis of the effectiveness of employed strategies, and a brief introduction to the four selected NGOs.
What research methods were used?
The study employed a qualitative approach using in-depth interviews, semi-structured questionnaires, and document reviews. The chapter details the research design, sample size, sampling techniques, data handling and analysis procedures, and ethical considerations.
What are the key findings presented in the empirical results?
The empirical results chapter presents findings on respondent background information, the roles of the four NGOs in combating VAW, a critical evaluation of their strategies' effectiveness, and the key challenges they face. This provides a comprehensive understanding of the situation.
What are the key objectives and themes of the research?
Key objectives include evaluating the effectiveness of NGO strategies, identifying challenges faced by NGOs, understanding the role of NGOs in VAW interventions, identifying best practices and policy implications, and exploring the prevalence and impact of VAW in Ghana.
What are the chapter summaries?
The document provides summaries for each chapter: an introduction establishing the global context of VAW; a literature review exploring definitions, theories, and existing research; a methodology chapter detailing the research approach; and an empirical results chapter presenting findings and analysis. A conclusion and recommendations chapter concludes the study.
What are the key words associated with this research?
Key words include Ghana, Non-governmental organizations (NGOs), Strategies, Violence against women (VAW), Gender-based violence (GBV), Effectiveness, Challenges, Interventions, and Policy implications.
What is included in the table of contents?
The table of contents includes sections on the introduction, literature review (with sub-sections on definitions, theoretical frameworks, empirical literature, NGO activities, strategy effectiveness evaluation, and NGO background), materials and methods (including research design, sample size, sampling, data handling, and ethics), empirical results (with sub-sections on respondent background, NGO roles, strategy effectiveness assessment, and challenges faced), conclusion, and recommendations and policy implications.
- Quote paper
- Ronald Essel (Author), Patricia Issabella Essel (Author), 2019, Violence against Women in Ghana. Interventions by NGOs, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/507863
