Final Evaluation: Community Driven FGM/C Abandonment and Women Empowerment in Somaliland

Location: Somalia 

Grantee: International Solidarity Foundation (ISF) 

Grant period: 1 January 2020 - 31 December 2022 

Grant amount: USD 1,429,312 

Authors/editors: SORADI 

Publication year: 2023 

International Solidarity Foundation (ISF) implemented a three-year project “Community Driven FGM/C Abandonment and Women Empowerment in Somaliland” with the support of the UN Trust Fund. The project aimed to: 

• empower local communities in Somaliland to abandon all forms of female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) by creating awareness of the physical, social and psychological health effects as well as the religious and human rights aspects of FGM/C;  
• enhance women’s agency in identifying and claiming their right to bodily integrity; and 
• coordinate grassroots movements to collectively advocate for ending FGM/C.  

The final evaluation found that the project had clearly contributed to strengthening community commitment to ending the practice of FGM/C. 

Main findings of the evaluation:  

• The project achieved positive changes in knowledge, attitude and behaviour regarding FGM/C among all secondary beneficiaries and parents reached. 
• The percentage of parents who support FGM/C abandonment as a result of participating in the project increased from 72% to 100%. 
• Parental readiness and willingness to avoid exposing their daughters to FGM/C rose from 32% in 2020 to 83% in 2022. 
• The proportion of religious leaders who believe that all types of genital cutting are harmful increased from 52% to 96%.  
• The project unified the voices of civil society organizations on zero tolerance of FGM/C and strengthened their capacity to influence people.