Experiencing Interruptions?

Unite for a Better Life: Reducing Intimate Partner Violence in Ethiopia

In Ethiopia – the birthplace of coffee – a diverse group of local advocates and researchers is testing a novel approach to reshape deeply held inequitable gender norms and behaviors. With the traditional coffee ceremony as the backdrop, this documentary short follows efforts of community-based facilitators as they attempt to spark conversations about sexuality, gender equality, intimate partner violence and HIV across rural Ethiopia and how these efforts can lead to lasting change.

HEALTH THEMES: Gender and women’s health, Maternal and neonatal health, Communicable diseases and non-communicable diseases

  • Vandana Sharma, Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL)
    Director
  • Garrick Ng, Studio Amarelo
    Director
  • Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL)
    Producer
  • Engender Health
    Producer
  • Fondation de France
    Producer
  • Addis Ababa University
    Producer
  • Ethiopian Public Health Association
    Producer
  • Kefyalew Asmara, Unite for a Better Life Program
    Key Cast
  • Dr. Negussie Deyessa, Addis Ababa University, School of Public Health
    Key Cast
  • Samuel Tewolde, Unite for a Better Life Program
    Key Cast
  • Daniel Oron, Faranj Productions
    Additional Crew
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short, Web / New Media
  • Runtime:
    7 minutes 44 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    June 1, 2017
  • Production Budget:
    13,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    Ethiopia
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital (Canon C100 Mark II / Ca
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Distribution Information
  • J-PAL / Engender Health
    Country: United States
    Rights: Internet
Director Biography - Vandana Sharma, Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL), Garrick Ng, Studio Amarelo

Vandana is a public health researcher with expertise in maternal and child health, HIV, and gender issues. Her research includes randomized trials of community-based interventions to reduce maternal mortality in northern Nigeria and of interventions to reduce HIV transmission and intimate partner violence in Ethiopia. She is also conducting mixed methods research in humanitarian settings to understand gender-based violence in these contexts. She earned her MD from the University of Western Ontario and an MPH from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health where she was a Sommer Scholar.

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