WW II holds 3rd Annual Programme Meeting in Turkey

Stakeholders, including Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) representatives, the programme’s Independent Advisory Board, consortium colleagues, and grantee partners convened in Istanbul Turkey from February 1 to 6, 2026 for the What Works to Prevent Violence, Impact at Scale 3rd Annual Programme Meeting.

The meeting, among others, highlighted and celebrated the achievements, challenges, and learning of the consortia; built alignment on the story of What Works’s contribution to the field and took advantage of in-person time for in-depth conversation.

The Pamodzi Kuthetsa Nkhanza Consortium, led by WOLREC Executive Director Maggie Kathewera, attended the six-day conference which took place under the theme, ‘Holding Ground: Reclaiming Momentum for Gender Equality and VAWG Prevention.

The WOLREC Executive Director shared the advocacy gains the PKN has made using the Women's Manifesto and how PKN is working with the government to develop the new National Action Plan to combat Gender-Based Violence.

Tuesday was another busy day in Istanbul, Turkey, where the What Works to Prevent Violence, Impact at Scale 3rd Annual Programme meeting is taking place.

She also participated in a panel discussion where she responded to several questions.

Responding to a question about the challenges in working on GBV, Kathewera Banda pointed out entrenched social norms that perpetuate GBV, limited financing on GBV which has affected women's rights organizations to deliver on their mandate among other challenges.

“For VAWG programs, this has meant that protecting feminist principles, survivor-centered work, and gender transformative work is under pressure,” she explained.

The WOLREC Executive Director also shared how PKN is responding through strategic government engagement, diversified partnerships, and prevention-focused approaches such as Moyo Olemekezeka to address economic violence.

The PKN consortium, comprising WOLREC, GENET, and WAG, is implementing the project in Lilongwe and Balaka with funding from the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).