Final Evaluation: Community-based Prevention of Sexual Violence on Women and Girls (Cameroon)

Location: Cameroon 

Grantee: Cameroon Association for the Protection and Education of the Child (CAPEC) 

Grant period: 1 January 2020 – 31 December 2022 

Grant amount: USD 399,819 

Authors/editors: Shei William Kanjo 

Publication year: 2023 

Cameroon Association for the Protection and Education of the Child (CAPEC) with the support of UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women implemented the three-year project “Community-based Prevention of Sexual Violence on Women and Girls”. The main objectives were to improve:

• access to quality and adequate services for survivors of violence;
• awareness amongst survivors and those at risk of violence; and
• existing policies and laws to guarantee friendly environments for women and girls in Meme Division in the south-west region of Cameroon.

Project activities included capacity building activities on life skills; sensitization of community members on laws and policies protecting young women and girls against sexual and gender-based violence; and training sessions for health service providers, community actors and social workers.

The final evaluation found that the main objectives of the project were achieved and that it had constructively address the challenges posed by COVID-19. The project also mobilized and capacitated grassroots women’s associations in the target communities to participate in existing movements. 

Main findings of the evaluation:  

• The project trained 1,013 women and girls on life skills; 370 women and girl mentors on laws relating to sexual and gender-based violence; 300 health service providers, community actors and social workers on providing care for survivors; The project sensitized 5,000 community leaders and members on sexual and gender-based violence. 
• The project accompanied 14 local women’s and girls’ rights networks and associations to carry out evidence-based advocacy at the local level.  
• It supported five grassroots women’s rights organizations to increase their capacity to deliver services to vulnerable women and girls in hard-to-reach and remote areas. 
• Over 98% of those surveyed thought the project responded to their priority needs in relation to violence against women and girls.