Small and Mighty! A meta-analysis of nine projects implemented by grassroot organizations, funded through the Small Grants modality by the United Nations Trust Fund to End Violence against Women

Countries and organizations:  

• Argentina – Fundación ANDHES (Abogados y abogadas del Noroeste argentino en Derechos Humanos y estudios sociales)
• Argentina – Fundación de comercio para la integración social y desarrollo económico (FUNDECO) 
• Cameroon – African Indigenous Women Organisation Central African Network (AIWO-CAN) 
• Cameroon – Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Africa (CHRDA) 
• Cameroon – Rural Women Center for Education and Development (RuWCED) 
• Côte d’Ivoire – ONG Conscience et Vie (COVIE)
• Mexico – Conservación, Investigación y Aprovechamiento de los Recursos Naturales, A.C. (CIARENA)
• Mexico – Infancia Común A.C. (IC)
• Zimbabwe – Bethany Project (BETHANY)

Project implementation period: 2020-2023  

This meta-analysis covers nine projects led by small grassroots women's rights organizations funded by the UN Trust Fund and EU/UN Spotlight Initiative through the Small Grants modality – a special funding modality to support small women-led organizations focusing on ending violence against women, which often have limited access to resources and funding.

These organizations, which focus on ending violence against women and are based in Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America and the Caribbean, reached 1.2 million people, benefiting 32,025 women and girls directly and approximately 30,000 others indirectly as partners, agents of change or participants during the project. 

The meta-analysis: 

• aims to generate evidence for collaborative strategies in ending violence against women; 
• provides actionable recommendations for innovative funding designs to support small women's organizations at the forefront of this cause; 
• focuses on understanding the design, implementation and adaptation of interventions by the nine organizations; 
• highlights effective strategies in movement-building and support for survivors and women and girls, within the framework of prevention, services, and laws and policies;
• identifies challenges, lessons learned and the utilization of flexible funding, core budgets and self-care resources; and
• provides recommendations on how to best support small women’s rights organizations in ending violence against women and girls.