The Association for Combating Trafficking of Human Beings and All Forms of Gender-based Violence (Atina) implemented the project "Making a difference for refugee women and girls in Serbia” for over three years in 2018-2021 with the support of the UN Trust Fund. The project aimed to ensure that refugee and asylum-seeking women and girls in Serbia were better protected against violence. The final evaluation found that the project was very successful in achieving its goals and outcomes, with most of the results exceeding targets. 

In Serbia, Mental Disability Rights Initiative of Serbia (MDRI-S) in partnership with women’s rights organization FemPlatz implemented the project “Accessible Services for Women with Disabilities Survivors of Custodial Violence” between 2019 and 2021 with the support of the UN Trust Fund. The twice-funded project aimed to ensure that women and girls with mental disabilities have greater support to live their life free of custodial violence. The final evaluation found that, despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the project partially achieved its goals. 

The Pacific Regional Rights Resource Team of the Pacific Community implemented the three-year initiative “Increasing women's access to justice: a project to implement the FPA in Solomon Islands” with support from the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women and the Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The final evaluation found that this pilot project helped to advance provisions of the country’s 2014 Family Protection Act (FPA) and contributed towards its implementation.

This independent, final evaluation presents the findings of the cluster evaluation of three small grant projects implemented between March 2017 and February 2020 and funded by the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women:1. “Improving Access to Life With No Violence for Women Survivors in Central and Northern Montenegro”, implemented by SOS Hotline for Women and Children Victims of Violence, Niksic;2. “Empowering Survivors of Domestic Violence in the Tetovo Region”, implemented by Women’s Forum–Tetovo in Montenegro; and3. “Actively and Publicly Combating Discrimination – Gender Based Violence”, implemented by the Center for Girls in Serbia. The final evaluation found that the empowerment and awareness-raising strategies implemented by the projects were effective, innovative and well adjusted to the target groups.

The UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women funded Sahayog Society for Participatory Rural Development’s project “Partnering for Change” for three years. The project aimed to change gender relations and gender-biased social norms in order to increase gender equality and prevent violence against women. The final evaluation found that the project achieved significant changes in the target communities.

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.

The UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women provided funding to Pragya’s initiative “Comprehensive Primary Prevention Programme Addressing Violence against Ethnic Minority Women in India”. Implemented in five states, the project tackled violence against tribal women in broad areas – legal and political; youth education; prevention mechanisms; and support services. The evaluation concluded that the project significantly contributed to positive change in the lives of women in the targeted communities, and that knowledge generation will help sustain the progress made.

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.

In March 2017, the Association Malienne pour le suivi et l’orientation des pratiques traditionnelles néfastes (AMSOPT) launched the initiative “Information and Sensitization against the Practices of FGM/C and Child Marriage in 30 Villages in Kayes Region”, supported by funds from the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women. The final evaluation found that the project contributed to a public commitment to abandon FGM/C and child marriage in 26 villages, and that the dialogue established between youths and adults on FGM/C and child marriage allowed an open and frank discussion on sensitive issue in the target communities.

The project “Transforming communities to end sexual and gender-based violence” was implemented by the Family Support Centre in Solomon Islands with support from the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women. The final evaluation found the project had a notable impact in the provinces in relation to advocacy, awareness and reporting of sexual and gender-based violence, but that there was still room to strengthen understanding of gender inequalities in communities.

The UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women provided funds for the Autonomous Women’s Center’s project “No Tolerance for Gender Based-Violence” between January 2016 and December 2018. The initiative disseminated information, changed individual attitudes, raised awareness about gender-based violence, and facilitated advocacy activities. The final evaluation found that the Center increased youth understanding of gender-based violence and contributed to changing boys’ attitudes about it.

The UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women provided funds for the Association of Roma Novi Bečej from January 2016 to December 2018 to support its initiative “No More Victims ¬– Roma Women and Girls Respond to Violence”. The final evaluation found that the project significantly contributed to ending violence against women in Novi Bečej municipality, particularly through education and improved service provision.

From January 2016 to January 2019, the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women provided funds for the Provincial Secretariat for Health, Social Policy and Demography’s initiative “STOP–CARE–CURE: A Stronger Institutional Response to Gender-based Violence in the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina”. The final evaluation found the project improved protection against gender-based violence and established pilot centres for survivors.

The project “Deinstitutionalize and End Violence against Women with Disabilities in Custodial Institutions”, implemented by Mental Disability Rights Initiative of Serbia, was funded from January 2016 to January 2018 by the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women. The final evaluation found that the project successfully brought the perspectives and experiences of women with disabilities in institutions to the attention of decision-makers, prompting institutional and policy change.

Breakthrough Trust implemented the project “Preventing Violence: Change Starts Now in India” with support from the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women. The final evaluation found that a critical assessment is needed to transform increased awareness against sexual harassment and domestic violence into action.

The UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women allocated funds to B92, a Serbian broadcasting organization, for its initiative “Safe House Economic Empowerment” that ran from December 2013 to February 2016. The project aimed to empower girls to understand violence and prevent intimate partner and non-partner gender-based violence. The evaluation found that the project significantly contributed to ongoing efforts in Serbia to end violence against women and girls.

The project Integrated Response to Gender-Based Violence against Women in Serbia was implemented by the UN Country Team in Serbia 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 the project had contributed significantly to the building of an integrated response of the UN Country Team, the Serbian Government and development partners to violence against women by improving capacities of key stakeholders to implement measures to address the violence.

Samvedana is an intervention programme aimed at reducing violence against women in sex work in Karnataka, India. It was implemented from December 2011 to July 2015 by the Karnataka Health Promotion Trust and received a three-year grant from the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women. The final evaluation found that female sex workers and community-based organizations gained knowledge about violence against women and its relation to health and wellbeing, and felt empowered to address the issue collectively

The project Anti-Harassment Committee and Violence Prevention System in Export-Oriented Garment Factories was implemented in south India and Bangladesh by the Fair Wear Foundation from October 2011 to March 2015, with support from the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women. The final evaluation found the project was effective in responding to the needs of women and girls in the garment industry, and that some innovative ideas had been developed that could be useful in other sectors.

The project Traditional Leaders Championing Prevention of Domestic Violence in their Communities in Lesotho and Malawi was implemented by the Southern Africa HIV and AIDS Information Dissemination Service (SAfAIDS) from September 2011 to August 2014 and received a three-year grant from the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women. The final evaluation found that in general, the project brought about positive behaviour change within communities in the fight to eliminate harmful cultural practices.