Final Evaluation: Transforming communities to end sexual and gender-based violence (Solomon Islands)

Location: Solomon Islands

Grantee: Family Support Centre

Grant Period: 1 March 2017 – 28 February 2019

Grant Amount: $119,266

From March 2017 to February 2019, the Family Support Centre in Solomon Islands implemented the project “Transforming Communities to End Sexual and Gender-based Violence” with funding from the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women. The project aimed to ensure that women and girls, including survivors of sexual and gender-based violence in Honiara, Temotu and Isabel, had better support and protection against sexual and gender-based violence in their communities. It worked towards establishing a counselling, paralegal support and community-based volunteer referral network.

Main findings of the evaluation:

• Nearly half of women survivors interviewed for the evaluation said the project empowered them to advocate about the Family Protection Act and discuss the harmful effects of sexual and gender-based violence.
• The project’s engagement with external stakeholders and the government contributed to a positive provincial rollout of SAFENET (a national referral network for women and girls to access essential services) and the establishment of the national counselling framework.
• Police officers improved how they handle domestic violence cases, including by engaging women volunteers in the provinces for counselling and paralegal services.
• Women volunteers gained recognition for their role in the project’s implementation and were consequently asked to be part of a national consultation.

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