Engaging men in preventing men’s violence against women and/or building gender equality: Practical guides, manuals, and curricula

How can we effectively engage men in preventing men’s violence against women and/or building gender equality? How can we mobilise their commitment and activism?

The following guides and manuals provide useful guidance on the practicalities of this work. Three highly recommended resources among these include Promundo's Manhood 2.0 curriculum (2018), the Rural Challenge Toolkit (2017), and USAID’s Engaging Men for Gender Equality (2023). Most of the manuals and guides listed here are available in full text in PDF. Also see further below for other resources.

ABAAD. (2018). Outside the Box: A training manual on gender & masculinities & strategies of engaging men and boys in combating gender discrimination & violence. Lebanon: UN Women.
African Women’s Development and Communications Network. (2014). A Handbook for Religious and Cultural Leaders Engaging Communities to End Female Genital Mutilation. The African Women’s Development and Communications Network.
Bartel, Doris (2018). Training and Mentoring Community Facilitators to Lead Critical Reflection Groups for Preventing Violence Against Women. The Prevention Collaborative.
Berkowitz, Alan D. (2001). Critical Elements of Sexual Assault Prevention and Risk Reduction Programs. Chapter 3 in C. Kilmartin: Sexual Assault in Context: Teaching College Men About Gender. Holmes Beach, FL: Learning Publications.
Berkowitz, Alan D. (2004a) Working With Men to Prevent Violence Against Women: An Overview. (Part One) National Resource Centre on Domestic Violence: VAWnet Applied Research Forum, October.
Berkowitz, Alan D. (2004b) Working With Men to Prevent Violence Against Women: Program modalities and formats. (Part Two) National Resource Centre on Domestic Violence: VAWnet Applied Research Forum, October.
Canadian Council of Muslim Women. (2017). Engaging men to end violence in the family. Gananoque, Ontario: Canadian Council of Muslim Women. (pp. 1-43 here, pp. 44-end here)
Centre for Health and Social Justice (CHSJ). (2015). Windows to Working with Men and Boys: Compendium of Interventions and Research from the 2nd MenEngage Global Symposium 2014, Men and Boys for Gender Justice, New Delhi. New Delhi: CHSJ.
Conroy, Michael. (2021). Men at Work: Ten dialogues for boys and young men. London.
Crofts, Jessica, and Stephen Hiley. (2017). Rural Challenge Toolkit. Kyneton, Victoria: Macedon Ranges Shire Council. (And Appendices.)
CulturaSalud. (2012). Hombres jóvenes por el fin de la violencia: Manual para facilitadores y facilitadoras (Young men for the end of violence: manual for facilitators). CulturaSalud/EME.
Dozois, E., & Wells, L. (2020). Changing contexts: A framework for engaging male-oriented settings in gender equality and violence prevention – Practitioners’ guide. Calgary, AB: The University of Calgary, Shift: The Project to End Domestic Violence.
EngenderHealth. (2008a). Engaging Boys and Men in Gender Transformation: The Group Education Manual. EngenderHealth/The ACQUIRE Project and Instituto Promundo.
EngenderHealth. (2008b). Engaging Men at the Community Level. EngenderHealth/The ACQUIRE Project and Instituto Promundo.
Family Violence Prevention Fund. (2004). Toolkit for Working with Men and Boys to Prevent Gender-Based Violence. San Francisco, CA: FVPF.
FEMNET. (2013). Masculinities & Engaging Men: Training Manual. FEMNET.
Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre. (2011). Male Advocacy for Women’s Human Rights Handbook. Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre.
Flood, Michael. (2019). Engaging Men and Boys in Violence Prevention. Palgrave Macmillan.
Flood, Michael, and Graeme Russell. (2017). Men Make a Difference: How to Engage Men on Gender Equality. Sydney: Diversity Council Australia.
Funk, Rus Ervin. (2006). Reaching Men: Strategies for Preventing Sexist Attitudes, Behaviors, and Violence. Indianopolis, IN: Jist Publishing (304 pp.).
Greig, Alan, with Jerker Edström. (2012). Mobilising Men in Practice: Challenging sexual and gender-based violence in institutional settings. Institute of Development Studies, Brighton: IDS.
Gueddes, A. (2015). Virtual knowledge centre to end violence against women and girls: Men and boys module. UN Women. URL: http://endvawnow.org/en/modules/view/9-men-boys.html, Acccessed January 5, 2016.
HealthWest Partnership Victoria. (2020). Working Together with Men: How to create male allies for gender equity in your community. Melbourne: HealthWest Partnership Victoria.
Instituto Promundo. (2002). Working With Young Men Manual Series. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: Instituto Promundo.
IRC. (2013). Preventing Violence Against Women and Girls: Engaging Men Through Accountable Practice: A transformative individual behavior change intervention for conflict-affected communities - PART 1: INTRODUCTORY GUIDE. New York: International Rescue Committee. URL: https://www.fsnnetwork.org/introductory-guide-preventing-violence-against-women-and-girls-engaging-men-through-accountable.
Kerner, Brad, Ketaki Bhattacharyya, and Sharon Lake-Post. (2007). Male Motivator Training Curriculum: Using Male Motivators to Increase Family Planning Use Among Young Married Couples. Mangochi, Malawi: Save The Children and United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
Kilmartin, Christopher T. (2001). Sexual Assault in Context: Teaching College Men About Gender. Holmes Beach, FL: Learning Publications.
- Includes;
- Critical elements of sexual-assault prevention and risk-reduction programs for men and women / Berkowitz, Alan D. (pp. 75-96)
Lindqvist, Anna, Benjamin Hurst, David Bartlett, Erik Schrammel, Florence Reshdouni, Lex van’t Hof, Frans Blokhuis, Jens van Tricht, and Jurhaily Sling. (2018). The Imagine Toolkit. Emancipator, Redefining Masculinity, Good Lad Initiative, MenEngage Europe.
Malik, B., R. Karkara, and N. Baruah. (2006). Mapping of Tools for Working with Men and Boys to End Violence Against Girls, Boys and Women. Kathmandu, Nepal & New Dehli, India Save the Children Sweden-Denmark Regional Programme for South and Central Asia and UNIFEM Regional Office for South Asia.
Men Can Stop Rape. (2013). Healthy Masculinity Training Institute Manual. Washington, D.C.: Men Can Stop Rape.
Miruka, Okumba. (2013). A training manual on masculinities and engaging men to end gender based violence. African Women’s Development and Communication Network (FEMNET).
Nardini, Krizia Nardini, Robert Bolton, Ariadna Cerdán-Torregrosa, Mariano Salazar, Claire Edwards, MCarmen Davó-Blanes, Belen Sanz-Barbero, Nihaya Dadoud, and Carmen Vives-Cases. (2022). Educational Intervention Guide: Promoting Positive Masculinities for the Prevention of Violence Against Women – conceptual toolbox and activities. Alicante, Spain: PositivMasc Project.
National Black Women’s Justice Institute. (2021). Boys as Allies: Increasing the Capacity for Adolescent and Teenage Boys to be Allies in the Work to End Sexual Violence Against Black Girls in School. National Black Women’s Justice Institute.
National Education Union and Beyond Equality. (2023). Working with boys and young men to prevent sexism and sexual harassment. London: National Education Union and Beyond Equality.
Next Gen Men. (2023). Next Gen Manual: A program guide for engaging boys in positive masculinity. Vancouver: Next Gen Men. [Requires entering contact details]
O’Rourke, F., and Haslop, C. (2023) #Men4change: Tackling and transforming harmful gendered norms and behaviours, a toolkit for youth workers and activists. Liverpool, U.K: University of Liverpool.
Ottawa Coalition to End Violence Against Women. (2018). Manifest Change Facilitator Manual: Engaging men and boys in the prevention of gender-based violence. Ottawa Coalition to End Violence Against Women.
Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape. (2004?). Men Against Sexual Violence Toolkit Training Curriculum. A Toolkit Curriculum to Promote Male Involvement in Ending Sexual Violence. Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape. URL: https://www.pcar.org/resource/masv-toolkit-curriculum
Population Council. (2006). Yaari Dosti: A Training Manual. New Delhi: Population Council.
Promundo and CARE International in Rwanda. (2012). Journeys of Transformation: A Training Manual for Engaging Men as Allies in Women’s Economic Empowerment. Washington, DC, USA, and Kigali, Rwanda: Promundo and CARE.
Promundo-US and the CGIAR Research Program on Aquatic Agricultural Systems. (2016). Promoting Gender-Transformative Change with Men and Boys: A Manual to Spark Critical Reflection on Harmful Gender Norms with Men and Boys in Aquatic Agricultural Systems. Washington DC: Promundo-US and Penang: CGIAR Research Program on Aquatic Agricultural Systems.
Promundo-US and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (2018). Manhood 2.0: A Curriculum Promoting a Gender-Equitable Future of Manhood. Washington, DC and Pittsburgh: Promundo and University of Pittsburgh.
Promundo-US. (2019). Manhood 2.0: Program Overview and Final Results. Washington, DC: Promundo.
Promundo, Instituto PAPAI, Salud y Género and ECOS. (2013). Program H|M|D: A Toolkit for Action/ Engaging Youth to Achieve Gender Equity. Promundo: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and Washington, DC, USA.
Promundo, UNFPA, and MenEngage. (2010). Engaging Men and Boys in Gender Equality and Health: A global toolkit for action. Rio de Janeiro: Promundo, UNFPA, and MenEngage.
RWAMREC. (2019). Facilitator’s Manual: Engaging men as fathers in gender equality, maternal and child health, caregiving and violence prevention. RWAMREC (Rwanda Men’s Resource Center) (pp. 1-55 here, pp. 56-end here).
Roy, Rahul, Dilip Simeon, Maria Rashid, Raziq Fahim, and Sanjay Srivastava. (2012). SANAM Study Guide for Second Round of Fellowship Programme.
SANAM. (no date). Workbook for Young Men on Violence and Masculinities. New Delhi: South Asian Network to Address Masculinities (SANAM).
Schuler, Sidney Ruth, Frederick Nyagah, and Jill Gay. (2012). Facilitator’s Manual For Discussions on Gender, Sexuality, And Family Planning In Rural Tanzania. CChange Project and USAID. July 2012.
Sonke Gender Justice Network. (2006). Be a Father Figure: One Man Can teach boys early and often to respect women and girls [One Man Can Toolkit]. Sonke Gender Justice Network: Cape Town, South Africa. .
Sonke Gender Justice Network. (2008). One Man Can: Working with Men and Boys to Reduce the Spread and Impact of HIV and AIDS. Sonke Gender Justice Network: Cape Town, South Africa.
Sonke Gender Justice Network. (2008). Workshop Activities: Talking to men about gender, domestic and sexual violence and HIV/AIDS. Sonke Gender Justice Network: Cape Town, South Africa.
Sonke Gender Justice. (2018). A Community Mobilisation Training Manual for Preventing men’s use of violence against women: Booklet 1. Workshop manual. Johannesburg: Sonke Gender Justice, UKAid, What Works to Prevent Violence, and Wits University.
Texas Council on Family Violence. (2010). Guide to Engaging Men and Boys in Preventing Violence Against Women and Girls. Men’s Nonviolence Project. (See the PDFs below for Parts 1-4)
Thomson, S., Quirke, F., Deepan, P., Martin, L., Nkusi, S., Lele Baghuma, U., Bezzolato, E., & McLarnon-Silk, C. (2021). Transforming Masculinities: Implementation guide. A step-by-step guide for implementing Transforming Masculinities projects. Teddington: Tearfund.
UN Women Training Centre. (2016). Understanding masculinities and violence against women and girls: Self-learning booklet. Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic: UN Women Training Centre.
UNFPA. (2009). Partnering With Men To End Gender-Based Violence: Practices that work from Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
UNIFEM. (2010). Virtual Knowledge Centre to End Violence Against Women and Girls. Section: Men & Boys.
USAID. (2011). Healthy Images of Manhood: A Peer Educator’s Workbook. U.S. Agency for International Development. (Authors: David Wofford and Cate Lane) (30 pp.).
USAID. (2011). Healthy Images of Manhood: Training Manual. U.S. Agency for International Development. (Authors: Leah Sawalha Freij, Cate Lane, Pauline Muhuhu, and David Wofford) (190 pp.).
USAID’s Engendering Industries. (2023). Engaging Men for Gender Equality. USAID.

Also see other sections of XY, including the following:

As well as curricula aimed at men and/or boys in particular, there are now some excellent curricula for primary and secondary school students in general, intended to foster respectful and non-violent relationships. See for example: