The International Center for Research on Women (ICRW) the GBV Prevention Network and MRC developed a program to further strengthen local GBV research capacity among community-based organizations in the Horn East and Southern Africa. The three-year program paired local community organizations working to combat violence against women and girls with leading research institutions in the region. The local activists and practitioners were trained to carry out action-oriented qualitative research and to share findings with policy makers and the GBV community at large. This report presents the findings and insights gained from the program. Part 2 describes the program’s process for selecting and training the participants. Part 3 presents the key findings and recommendations from the research conducted by the participating organizations. Part 4 discusses the program’s achievements and lessons that emerged from the initiative. Overall our experience shows that partnering violence prevention organizations with research institutions has strengthened the formers’ skills to carry out relevant action research and has helped direct information on violence against women into the hands of those who are best positioned to use it namely social movements and program implementers. Yet the process is time intensive and care must be taken in clarifying roles and expectations and managing communication among partners. Further investment is needed to support the current group of NGOs in honing their research skills through refresher trainings and to foster partnerships and mentoring between other researchers and activists in the region. This will create a stronger and more diverse base of skilled researchers and practitioners to catalyze action needed to combat violence against women. (Excerpt)