Once a safe cities for women programme has gathered partners, undertaken a situation analysis, and determined what issues it will tackle, its members need to decide how they will go about organizing for action. At this point, programme design has to take into consideration all of the different viewpoints represented in the city or community.
A conceptual framework is an outline, developed by the safe cities for women programme partners, that explicitly states the values and beliefs that the programme represents, why the programme exists, and what it hopes to accomplish. A conceptual framework is not only important to ensure all partners share a common vision and understanding, but to share with the public, especially women and girls, what the safe cities for women concept represents in practical terms, and what kinds of initiatives, ideas and support can be expected from the programme. Furthermore, if there is a conflict within a safe cities for women programme, or between programme partners and an outside party, the conceptual framework can be referred to as a way of determining what representatives of the programme do or do not wish to support.