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.

In Nigeria, HACEY Health Initiative implemented the three-year “The Stop Cut Project – Ending Female Genital Mutilation and Cutting in Southwest Nigeria”. The project aimed to promote effective implementation of laws and policies that protect women and girls from female genital mutilation and cutting (FGM/C), increase community engagement, and advocate for the abolition of FGM/C in three states by engaging stakeholders at the individual, family, societal and state levels. The final evaluation found that the project’s activities to raise awareness on laws and policies prosecuting FGM culprits were highly effective.

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.

Scripture Union West Africa (SUWA) implemented the three-year project “Improved Action Against Sexual and Gender-Based Violence and Harmful Practices in Benue and Kaduna States” in Nigeria between 2020 and 2022 with the support of the UN Trust Fund. The project aimed to achieve its goals through school and community actions, creating positive social norms and building the capacity of the communities and institutions to tackle gender-based violence. The final evaluation found that these objectives were covered effectively and that the project activities were achieved, despite challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and other crises.

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 Sexual Offences Awareness & Victims Rehabilitation (SOAR) Initiative implemented the project “Mobilizing Communities to end Sexual Based Violence Against Girls in Dushe local District of Abuja Municipal Area Council” with support from the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women. The final evaluation found the project had improved girls’ experience of safety and support in schools and their communities.

The project “Improvement of Conditions for Access to a Life Free of Gender Violence for Women in El Salvador”, implemented by the Asamblea de Cooperación por la Paz, was funded by the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women from January 2015 to December 2017. The final evaluation concluded that the project increased the capacities of women and youth related to local civil services, enabling their participation in local decision-making.

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.