Final Evaluation: Sunrise Campaign: Local Action to End Violence and Empower Women (Eswatini, Madagascar and South Africa)

Author(s)/editor(s)

Samson Marufu

Location: Eswatini, Madagascar, South Africa

Grantee: Gender Links HQ

Grant period: 1 January 2020 - 31 December 2022

Grant amount: USD 1,430,000

Authors/editors: Samson Marufu

Publication year: 2023

Gender Links, with the support of UN Trust Fund, implemented the three-year project “Sunrise Campaign: Local Action to End Violence and Empower Women” to enhance gender-responsive governance at the local level, improve women’s economic empowerment through building entrepreneurial and life skills, address harmful traditional practices, and improve gender attitudes in the targeted communities and among men. The project’s main objectives included:

increasing the skill of councils to run the project’s programme and mainstream it;
networking women using low data technology platforms;
working with at least half of young women in the 40 targeted communities with a view to “stopping violence before it starts”;
working with male family members to manage any potential backlash and ensure a transformative approach at family level; and
ensuring the programme forms part of council plans to end gender-based violence “community by community”.

The final evaluation found that the project’s objectives were covered effectively and its activities were achieved.

Main findings of the evaluation:

760 survivors of gender-based violence, including young women (aged 18-35), were trained in entrepreneurship and life skills: the vast majority had business plans and had implemented personal development plans; and women entrepreneurs reported a 55% increase in average income.
Despite COVID-19 challenges, the rate of gender-based violence fell from 27.47% to 21.27% in the 40 targeted communities.
Gender attitudes improved, notably among men related to women entrepreneurs.
There was a positive correlation between economic empowerment and reduced gender-based violence.
The project strategy effectively integrated crisis response mechanisms, maintaining momentum even during the COVID-19 pandemic, although gender-responsive crisis programming was identified as a key area for future improvement.