Exploring GBV Risk Mitigation in Iraq and Colombia

In 2022, UNFPA and the Global Women’s Institute (GWI) at George Washington University undertook operational research in Iraq and Colombia with the goal of developing proxy indicators for mitigating GBV risk to women who receive cash assistance. Proxy indicators for detecting GBV risks to women in cash assistance offer a safe way for non-GBV specialist cash and/or M&E actors to monitor risk without causing inadvertent individual disclosures of violence. This case study explores the findings of the operational field research and its implications for UNFPA’s Indicators for GBV Risk Mitigation in Cash Assistance with Supporting Guidance.

Key Finding #1: Asking women about their risk mitigation strategies, rather than their opinions on the risks associated with cash, appeared to reduce their response bias and revealed some of the risks they encountered within their communities, households, and/or intimate partnerships when accessing or using cash.

Key Finding #2: Monitoring women’s participation and/or degrees of involvement in financial decision-making within households is critical for detecting possible GBV risks they may face from household or family members.

The accompanying Indicators Guide that derived from this field research is available here: https://gbvaor.net/node/1882