In Colombia, Corporación Con-Vivamos implemented a four-year project, “Women and men breaking the mould to eradicate sexist violence against women and girls in Colombia”, with the support of the UN Trust Fund and in association with five other local civil society organizations. The project aimed to transform social attitudes that normalize gender inequality and violence against women. The final evaluation found that despite structural and operational challenges, the project’s objectives were covered effectively and its activities were achieved.

The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Cameroon implemented a three-year project, “Making Violence against Women and Girls History in the Northwest and Southwest Regions of Cameroon”, with the support of the UN Trust Fund. The project aimed to ensure that women and girls in the two regions were better protected from violence and empowered to realize their right to live free from violence. The final evaluation found that the project helped make women more aware of gender-based violence, more willing to talk about it, and more confident to approach legal services to demand justice; and were advocating for the promotion of their rights.

Fundación Servicios Integrales para la Mujer - Si Mujer implemented the three-year project “Young People Challenging Gender Norms to Break the Silence that surrounds Sexual Violence in South-West Colombia” in Santiago de Cali and nearby municipalities in the state of Valle del Cauca, with the support of the UN Trust Fund from 2018 to 2021. The project aimed to address gender-based violence by empowering adolescents and youth to challenge harmful, unequal gender norms; lead community-based prevention and advocacy initiatives; and strengthen the capacities of civil society and public institutions to provide gender-sensitive services to survivors of sexual violence. The final evaluation found that the project successfully empowered and mobilized young people and leaders to challenge harmful gender norms, raise awareness on sexual violence, and advocate for their sexual and reproductive health rights.

The Cameroon Association for the Protection and Education of the Child (CAPEC) implemented the three-year project “Community-based Prevention of Sexual Violence on Women and Girls” in Cameroon between 2020 and 2022 with the support of the UN Trust Fund. The project aimed to improve: access to services for survivors of violence against women and girls; and existing policies and laws to guarantee friendly environments for women and girls. The final evaluation found that project had achieved its main objectives and constructively addressed the challenges posed by COVID-19.

Between March 2017 and February 2020, LUKMEF – Cameroon received funding from the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women to implement its project “Building Community Level Agenda to End Gender Based Violence in Cameroon”. The final evaluation found that the project led to significant positive changes in the lives of beneficiaries.

The UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women funded “Addressing Violence Against Syrian Refugee Women in the Kurdistan Region of Northern Iraq”, a project implemented by Women for Women International . The project aimed to support women affected by conflict, including Syrian refugees, members of the host community, and internally displaced populations in Erbil and Sulaymaniyah. The evaluation found that the project was effective and improved the lives of the intended beneficiaries.

From March 2017 to February 2019, the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women provided funding to Asuda for Combating Violence against Women for its initiative “Improving the Response Mechanisms to Sexual and Gender-based Violence against Syrian Refugee Women and Girls in Iraqi Kurdistan”, which was run in partnership with the Ceasefire Center for Civilian Rights. The initiative included all actors involved in the issue of sexual and gender-based violence in the context of a displaced population. The final evaluation found the project had improved community and stakeholders’ responses and social attitudes towards sexual and gender-based violence in Syrian refugee communities, and that the project’s strategy should be used as a model for other initiatives in a similar cultural and humanitarian context.

The project “Preventing Violence through Creating Safer Schools” was implemented in Guyana by Help & Shelter between January 2016 and January 2019 with financial support from the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women. The final evaluation found that school-aged girls who participated in the project felt more confident to speak out against violence and to seek support. Secondary school students trained during the project better understood gender-based violence and gained knowledge of laws related to gender-based violence, domestic violence and children’s rights.

ALAFIA received funding from the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women to implement the project “Eradication of harmful customary widowhood practices that can lead to HIV/AIDS infection” in 24 villages in Togo. The final evaluation showed that the project ended degrading and humiliating widowhood rites against women in these villages and established the principle of equal sharing of inheritance between women and men.

From January 2015 to December 2016, the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women provided funding to the National Indigenous Organization of Colombia (ONIC) for its project “Indigenous Women, Violence and Access to Justice”. The final evaluation found the initiative was very successful. An “observatory” set up to document cases of gender-based violence increased the visibility of this form of violence, and indigenous women were trained in ways to best support members of their community who have experienced gender-based violence through a programme developed to suit their culture and beliefs.

The project Transitional Justice: Addressing Gender-Based Violence and Ensuring Women’s Participation was implemented by the International Center for Transitional Justice from November 2012 to October 2015, and received a three-year grant from the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women. The final evaluation found that this complex project in six countries achieved some results despite of a range of implementation challenges.