Proposing a Unified Framework for Coordinated Community Response

The CSW65 agreed conclusions call for a multisectoral coordinated response to all forms of violence against women. The term coordinated community response (CCR) is commonly used in various models of such a response. However, the term itself has different meanings to various actors in the sector, and therefore it is difficult to evaluate its success with any degree of certainty. This article seeks to (i) propose a broader unified framework for thinking about the term; (ii) remove any underlying assumptions of its positive or negative connotations; and (iii) revisit the term from a theoretical standpoint. The goal of this effort is to (a) guide policy, programming, and advocacy efforts across different sectors that respond to VAW; (b) provide clarity to practitioners in the implementation of a CCR; and (c) make its effectiveness measurable in different contexts.