Working with Couples: Prevention Strategies Deep Dive

Learn about preventing intimate partner violence through programmes that work with couples.

What Will I Learn?

With this course, you will take a deep dive into the key elements of effective strategies to prevent violence against women and intimate partner violence (IPV) through working with couples. The course will also offer an opportunity to co-learn with other practitioners working in this space through live sessions led by Ritha Nyiratunga.

Specifically, by the end of this course, you will be able to:

Describe the rationale for working with couples to prevent IPV
Understand the history of couples-based programming, including concerns over its appropriateness to address IPV
Identify the risk and protective factors addressed by this prevention strategy
Identify the key components of evidence-based couples programmes to prevent IPV
Explain how these interventions seek to foster change and reduce violence against women and IPV
Summarise evidence on the effectiveness of these programme interventions
Articulate key considerations and learning about designing, adapting, and implementing such programmes
Reflect on how this strategy is applicable in your context

Who is this course for?

This course is designed for:

Practitioners in violence against women prevention programming
Experienced programme managers, technical leads, and researchers interested in working with couples to prevent IPV

What are the requirements to join?

We strongly recommend that all participants complete the ‘Working at the Intersection of Violence Against Women and Children’ course before starting ‘Working with Couples: Prevention Strategies Deep Dive’. Understanding the intersections of violence against children and violence against women in the home is critical for you to gain the most from the current course. Other requirements include that you:

Have a functional laptop/mobile phone and access to stable internet
Are proficient in English
Can complete all sessions and quizzes, as well as engage in the discussion forum

What is the learning schedule?

This self-paced course is designed to be completed within three to four hours over five weeks.

You will also be invited to live, facilitated sessions with the course facilitator. These live sessions offer an opportunity to meet and share knowledge with other practitioners in the parenting programme space.

What is the course outline?

This course has five sessions:

Course Introduction
Why Work with Couples?
Unpacking the ‘Working with Couples’ Strategy
Applying the Strategy
Course Conclusion

These interactive sessions are designed to walk you through the various facets of working with couples to prevent violence against women using relevant programme examples and practical considerations for applying this strategy in your context.