Final Evaluation: The Stop Cut Project – Ending Female Genital Mutilation and Cutting in Southwest Nigeria

Location: Nigeria  

Grantee: HACEY Health Initiative 

Grant period: 1 January 2020 – 31 December 2022 

Grant amount: USD 667,663 

Authors/editors: DATA PARK 

Publication year: 2023 

HACEY Health Initiative implemented the three-year “The Stop Cut Project – Ending Female Genital Mutilation and Cutting in Southwest Nigeria”. Focusing on the Nigerian states of Ekiti, Osun and Oyo, the project aimed to: promote the effective implementation of laws and policies that protect women and girls from female genital mutilation and cutting (FGM/C); increase community engagement; advocate for the abolition of FGM/C; and engage stakeholders at the individual, family, societal and state levels in addressing FGM/C, focusing on policy and action at all levels.  

This goal was to be achieved through four broad outcomes:  

• Civil society organizations, media, government and citizens are using evidence-based data and information to support their work on ending FGM/C in the targeted states.
• The End FGM Alliance is more effectively advocating for the enforcement of FGM/C policies.
• Citizens in the target states have changed their attitudes about ending FGM/C practices.
• HACEY Health Initiative has been institutionally strengthened.

The final evaluation found that the project’s activities to raise awareness on laws and policies prosecuting FGM/C culprits were highly effective. 

Main findings of the evaluation: 

• The project impacted people's understanding of FGM/C, the risks and dangers involved, and the existence of the law that governs it.
• The practice of FGM/C in the community decreased significantly.
• The project’s beneficiaries understand the meaning of FGM/C, the risks associated with it and the legal implications.