✨ Our Executive Director joined colleagues at the 9th Annual Learning Convening on Preventing Violence Against Children (VAC) in East Africa, held in Nairobi and organized by Impact and Innovations Development Centre (IIDC) and Investing in Children and their Societies (ICS SP).

🤝 For nearly a decade, this convening has brought VAC partners together, building a powerful community of practice and commitment.

🎤 She was honoured to deliver the keynote on “The Changing Violence Against Children Funding Landscape”, and to contribute to a rich exchange of insights that underscored the region’s shared dedication to protecting children.

Her reflections highlighted how, even as traditional funding streams shrink, we can strengthen and sustain impact across East Africa by:
1️⃣ Diversifying funding – complementing donor support with investments from domestic sources: governments, philanthropists, and the private sector.
2️⃣ Aligning with national systems – embedding interventions into government priorities for long-term sustainability.
3️⃣ Investing in what works – demonstrating impact, capturing practice-based knowledge, and focusing resources on proven approaches.
4️⃣ Working in coalitions – building on existing collaborations, sharing lessons, and amplifying our collective voice.

🌱 The challenges are real, but so are the opportunities. By carrying forward the vision of the past decade, we can reimagine VAC prevention with approaches rooted in evidence, strengthened by partnerships, and sustained by diverse streams of support.

We recently supported the launch of the LEARN Toolkit (Learning Environments that Advance Rights and Nonviolence) in Kenya, an exciting milestone in creating positive, inclusive learning environments.

The toolkit is a system-ready, whole-school intervention designed to:
👩🏽‍🏫 Equip teachers and school leaders with practical skills for positive discipline and child protection
👧🏾 Strengthen learners’ life skills and social-emotional development
👨‍👩‍👧 Engage caregivers to reinforce positive parenting at home

🌍 With pilots now underway, the LEARN Toolkit will be tested for feasibility, acceptability, and early outcomes, ensuring it is grounded in evidence and responsive to the realities of Kenyan classrooms.

✨ This milestone was made possible through strong collaboration between the Ministry of Education, Teachers Service Commission, LVCT HEALTH, and Evidence and 𝗕𝗘𝗬𝗢𝗡𝗗 (E&B). Together, we are demonstrating how evidence-driven interventions, co-created with governments and communities, can help end violence against children and build resilient systems.

This launch is just one example of how research and practice come together to create real-world impact.

💡 Imagine the possibilities if such initiatives were scaled across all schools in Kenya, creating safer, happier learning environments for every child!!

This week, Evidence & BEYOND is proud to be in South Africa 🇿🇦 facilitating a 4-day GBV prevention workshop on behalf of the SADC Secretariat, with generous support from GIZ 🇩🇪.

🌐 Representatives from 15 SADC countries are coming together to deepen their understanding of the foundational concepts of GBV prevention, translating theory into practice and strengthening their capacity to design and implement evidence-informed, contextually relevant interventions.

📚 This workshop builds on a three-part webinar series, creating space for critical reflection, peer learning, and hands-on engagement with tools and frameworks that can drive sustainable prevention strategies.

We’re energised by the shared commitment, insightful conversations, and powerful vision for a safer, more just region for all. 🙌🏾

Huge thanks to all our partners for making this work possible and to the incredible participants for bringing your passion and expertise into the room. 👏🏾