Final Evaluation: Towards Improved Prevention of Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Among Urban Refugees Project (Kenya)

Author(s)/editor(s)

Monitoring Evaluation and Research for Development in Africa Limited (MERDA)

Location: Kenya

Grantee: Refugee Consortium of Kenya

Grant period: 1 October 2018 – 31 May 2022

Grant amount: USD 1,281,949

Authors/editors: Monitoring Evaluation and Research for Development in Africa Limited (MERDA)

Publication year: 2022

Refugee Consortium of Kenya implemented the three-year project “Towards Improved Prevention of Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Among Urban Refugees Project” in Nairobi and Garissa counties with the support of the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women from 2018 to 2021. The project aimed to:

address gender-based violence experienced by women and girls with intersecting vulnerabilities, particularly refugees and asylum seekers, through advocacy, multisectoral collaboration, capacity development training, and psychosocial counselling;
enhance community-based support for survivors of violence;
improve reporting and conviction rates of gender-based violence cases; and
strengthen the coping mechanisms and practical skills of survivors.

The final evaluation found that the project substantially increased the knowledge and awareness of gender-based violence among survivors, as well as key judicial, medical, official and religious actors, which in turn improved survivors’ perception of self-worth, their confidence in institutional mechanisms, and their ability to seek and access support. It also found that the project adapted and sustainably responded to crisis situations while strengthening their internal capacities and systems as well as distributing emergency medical supplies and cash during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Main findings of the evaluation:

Project participants saw significant improvements in their economic and entrepreneurial capabilities, with 93% of women and girls having their own savings account, 78% gaining awareness of where to obtain money to start a new business, and 71% knowing how to write a business plan.
5,073 communications materials on gender-based violence prevention and response, and refugee protection booklets were developed and distributed, exceeding the target of 3,600.
364 key actors, including police officers, judicial officers, health professionals and human rights actors, were trained on how to best support survivors of violence and on women's rights, violence against women, risk factors and cultural sensitivities.