Association for Public Policy Analysis & Management

Recent political discourse argues that the International Community needs to take a firmer stand on ending gender-based violence (GBV) as a consequence of war. However, an analysis of International policy prescriptions compared to grassroots programs and local policy initiatives indicates that localized efforts have a greater impact. The Preventing sexual violence initiative of 2012 (PSVI) attempts to curb GBV in conflict through identifying variables of causation and with several solutions, such as better education, increased access to healthcare, and more comprehensive training for those involved in peacekeeping missions. However, the initiative fails to include actionable steps towards prevention because it’s generalizations about the sources of the problem are too broad. Causes and implications of GBV in conflict are unique and depend on conflict specificities. Examining and preventing GBV during conflict is most effective when viewing the situation through an Advocacy Coalition Framework in order for practitioners along with policymakers and academics to provide training, technical assistance and policy suggestions to prevent future violence. The paper offers a comparative analysis of the PSVI and a community-based GBV prevention program during the post-conflict era in the Ivory Coast. Both short-term and long-term outcomes of the prevention program suggest that it is important to look at the cultural and relational contexts in the region. The paper will also examine the cultural norms of Congolese genocide survivors and Sudanese and South Sudanese survivors of their country’s genocide. Based on this analysis, future policy research and proposals should follow an Advocacy Coalition Framework to create initiatives that are successful on the localized level.