The National Strategic Plan on Gender Based Violence and Femicide living evidence map

The Pan-African Collective for Evidence (PACE) in partnership with the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (DPME), since 2020 have developed the National Strategic Plan (NSP) on GBVF Living Evidence Map. The living evidence map serves as a resource and knowledge management tool for Pillar 6 of the NSP, which is focused on strengthening the research and information base to address systemic challenges and promote effective, evidence-based responses for Gender Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF). This living evidence map therefore presents the knowledge base of gender in South Africa with an interactive online interface.

The Femicide rate in South Africa is five times higher than that of the global average, a woman is raped every four minutes. The scourge of GBVF in South Africa points to the need for evidence informed policies and interventions. The National Strategic Plan on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (NSP) is a framework designed by government and the civil society to guide responses to the high levels of Gender-Based Violence and Femicide in South Africa. It is South Africa’s bold, united response to GBVF; a whole-of-society plan designed by government and civil society to drive real, lasting change.  To achieve this goal, establishing a national knowledge base for GBVF research is essential. Such a knowledge base would enable the strengthening of GBV policies and interventions grounded in existing research and evaluations. While numerous responsive and preventative initiatives have been implemented across the country, it is crucial to better understand "what works, how, for whom, at what cost and why" in various contexts. This understanding is especially important to ensure that limited resources are used effectively to combat GBVF.

A defining feature of this evidence map is its inclusion of grey literature, such as NGO reports, government evaluations, and community-based research, ensuring a richer, more context-specific understanding of the GBVF landscape in South Africa. This living evidence map therefore presents the knowledge base of gender in South Africa with an interactive online interface. The most exciting element about this living evidence map is it bringing together innovation and AI to power the Fight Against GBVF in South Africa, through ChatEIDM the living evidence map is more accessible and user-friendly for practitioners, policymakers, and the public alike, to answer pressing questions in a fast turnaround time based on principles of transparency and inclusiveness.

If any organisations are seeking to contribute to this evidence base the living evidence map has an option to ‘Submit a study’ on this transformative tool to transform access to evidence and improve South Africa’s response to GBVF.

This AI powered living evidence map is a dynamic, user-friendly platform designed to centralise, organise, and connect the best available evidence on GBVF to the people who need it most, policymakers, implementers, and advocates. You can access the AI powered living evidence map on the National strategic plan on Gender based violence and femicide here.