Centering Practice-Based Knowledge, Decolonial Philanthropy, and Technology-Facilitated Violence Prevention at the SVRI Forum

Oluwatobiloba Ayodele (She/Her) , Associate

I have always wondered what forums like the SVRI Forum were like. Having experienced other gatherings and feminist discourse on gender equality and decolonial theories, attending the Forum was my first experience with violence prevention and response. Attending alongside my colleagues from the Prevention Collaborative, I found the conversations refreshing and informative. It was exciting to see evidence that affirms one of our ethos that preventing violence is possible and that knowledge, evidence, and a strong feminist movement will help us get there.

Here, I reflect on the three central themes that emerged for me: the importance of practice-based knowledge (PBK), the critical need to decolonise philanthropy and invest wisely, and the urgent discussions around technology-facilitated violence.?

Adopting Practice-Based Knowledge to foster Holistic Violence Prevention Programming

I attended my first workshop at the forum on practice-based knowledge (PBK)—a grounding concept that champions insights from lived experiences and practical applications over theoretical knowledge alone. I appreciated the facilitators in guiding the discussion by first explaining what PBK is and what it is not, what PBK looks like in practice within the violence prevention programming and how to monitor and evaluate PBK. As it has always been my personal practice to understand every concept as political and intersectional, seeing PBK as a political stance was a powerful framing. Critically, it gave new depth to its potential as a transformative tool in the field. From this understanding, which was echoed in the room, it was important to recognise that there are visible and invisible barriers that hinder PBK’s integration within the violence prevention field and how we can explore strategies to eliminate these barriers, such as funding PBK approaches in violence prevention programming.

My colleague, Dr. Erin Stern , shared insights on the Prevention Collaborative's work, reinforcing PBK’s role in our efforts to advance quality programming. Yet, the conversation didn’t stop there. We asked ourselves:?

• What barriers prevent PBK from becoming a foundational approach in violence prevention?
• How can we secure sustained funding that honours the time, rigour, and community engagement PBK demands?

Reflecting on these questions reminded me of the importance of advocating for a funding model that supports PBK-centered projects and values depth over quick outputs.?

Decolonising Philanthropy and Investing Wisely: Shifting Power and Resources

As the week progressed, discussions around funding, philanthropy, and decolonising the philanthropic landscape took centre stage. Again, engaging with these concepts from a political point of view made a significant impact as speakers and participants highlighted how systems of funding often perpetuate power imbalances. Violence prevention isn’t a “quick-fix” solution; it requires a systems change approach, one that acknowledges community roots, honours lived experiences and incorporates practice-based knowledge and learning.

During the Prevention Collaborative’s event on strengthening the funding ecosystem, we examined how existing resources, while limited, must be invested wisely. Using our #InvestingWisely initiative, we made the case for funding and wise investment that enables the integrity and contextual fit necessary for violence prevention programming.?

Technology-Facilitated Violence: Who is controlling the tech space?

Perhaps one of the most thought-provoking themes for me was technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV). Feminist tech thinkers and researchers explored how online violence is directly linked to offline violence, often perpetrated by the same individuals and driven by the same dynamics of control and harm. The conversations brought forward the critical intersections between technology, violence, and systemic inequalities. In a world where tech and artificial intelligence (AI) are inextricably woven into daily life, it is important that we scrutinise the implications of these tools in violence prevention.

As I reflected on these discussions, I couldn’t help but consider questions like:

• How can we embed feminist and decolonial frameworks into AI and tech spaces?
• What systems of accountability need to be built when so few entities control vast tech spaces that impact millions?

Recognising that AI and technology are not merely tools but are embedded within capitalist and imperialist systems, it’s clear we must advocate for transformative approaches to digital violence prevention. TFGBV is not just an emerging issue; it’s a growing, urgent reality that demands integrated, intersectional approaches to ensure that both offline and online spaces are safe for women, children, and marginalised communities.?

I look forward to seeing all the positive effects of these conversations within the field. Please stay connected with us at the Collaborative to get updates on our work within violence prevention, mainly on intimate partner violence (IPV) and violence against children (VAC).?

Cover Photo by SVRI