Final Evaluation: Enhancing Sexual Violence Response in Kenya During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Location: Nakuru, Nairobi, Kisumu, and Uasin Gishu counties – Kenya

Grantee: Physicians for Human Rights (PHR)

Grant period: May 2021-May 2024

Grant amount: USD 499,973

Authors/editors: Roseline Muchai

Publication year: 2024

From May 2021 to May 2024, Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) with the support of the UN Trust Fund implemented the project “Enhancing sexual violence response in Kenya during the COVID-19 pandemic”to address the quality and accessibility of coordinated response services to survivors of violence against women and girls. The project’s main objectives were to improve the coordination and quality of response services to sexual violence, and improve documentation of forensic evidence for securely transferring evidence from healthcare to police and justice sectors during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. The project implemented the following activities:

• capacity development of healthcare, police and law enforcement staff on coordinated case management and forensic documentation;
• piloting the MediCapt digital app for forensic documentation of sexual violence evidence;
• developing guidelines for case management during the pandemic and for running training sessions remotely;
• mobilizing networks through virtual gatherings for case conferencing, discussions, exchange of experiences, strategy development and local referral coordination; and
• advocacy meetings supporting policy development.

The final evaluation found that despite COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, the project achieved planned results effectively. The activities were highly appreciated and seen as effective, relevant, impactful and sustainable. 

Main findings of the evaluation:

• The project trained 183 medical, legal and law enforcement service providers on survivor-centred case management and forensic documentation.
• Significant improvements were observed in forensic evidence collection and documentation benefiting survivors seeking justice.
• The MediCapt app was integrated into the Kenya Health Information System, enabling cases reported at county level to be included in national health service data reporting. Further efforts are needed to fully incorporate all cases reported through MediCapt to the national health service data reporting system.
• Visits to facilities in Nakuru and Mukuru by women and girl survivors rose in the project period from an average of 40 visitors per month to 62. 
• County engagement and ownership of project results indicates the continuation of the training on forensic documentation and coordination between health, police and law enforcement personnel.