Taking stock of the INSPIRE framework

This workshop report, produced by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS), Save the Children South Africa, and UNICEF SA, assesses the implementation of the INSPIRE framework to prevent violence against children (VAC) in South Africa. It details how government departments, NGOs, and researchers use the framework, identifies systemic gaps in coordination and leadership, and provides recommendations for scaling up evidence-based interventions.

• South Africa's status as a 'Pathfinding' country—a designation for governments that make a formal, public commitment to end violence against children—has lost momentum because there is currently no government official appointed as a focal point to act as a bridge to the Global Partnership.
• The Department of Basic Education (DBE) has integrated the INSPIRE framework by using it to inform the strategic direction of three directorates, incorporating INSPIRE indicators into a new monitoring and evaluation tool, and briefing the portfolio Committee.
• Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) use INSPIRE to guide parenting programmes, such as Parenting for Lifelong Health, and to inform gender transformative norm and value change in schools. The framework provides these organisations with legitimacy and facilitates partner coordination.
• Research organisations use INSPIRE to guide the ISS Evidence Map and to create a bidirectional flow of evidence where South African VAC interventions are included in the global framework. However, researchers find that the package is primarily catered toward NGOs, governments, and implementors rather than researchers.
• Significant gaps exist in the VAC ecosystem, including a lack of communication and coordination between the government and NGOs, who are described as not speaking the same language. Additionally, there is a need for more research on the intersections between VAC and climate change, migrant children, and teenage pregnancy.
• While there is a consensus that evidence-based interventions should be scaled up, there is little agreement on the definition of 'scale-up' or who is responsible for driving the process. NGOs report having the implementation expertise but lacking the necessary resources to scale.
• Participants generally agree that a full revision of the INSPIRE framework is not currently urgent. They prioritise the appointment of a national focal point, the building of capacity for existing focal points, and the provision of technical assistance over a framework update.

APA

Institute for Security Studies (n.d.). Taking stock of the INSPIRE framework. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/workshop-report-inspire.pdf

Chicago

Institute for Security Studies. Taking stock of the INSPIRE framework. n.d. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/workshop-report-inspire.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Institute for Security Studies |title=Taking stock of the INSPIRE framework |url=https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/workshop-report-inspire.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{instituteforsecuritystudiesndtaking, author = {{Institute for Security Studies}}, title = {{Taking stock of the INSPIRE framework}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, url = {https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/workshop-report-inspire.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }