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.

Fund for Congolese Women (Fonds pour les Femmes Congolaises) implemented a three-year project, “Prevention and Reduction of Violence in Schools”, with the support of the UN Trust Fund. The project aimed to ensure that 600 girls in 10 target provinces feel safer and better equipped to protect themselves against sexual violence in schools in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The final evaluation found that girls in schools had increased knowledge of the rights of women and girls, the various forms of sexual violence, and the laws against sexual violence.

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 Help Age International’s initiative “Ensuring Gender and Age Dimensions of Human Rights are Realised in Moldova” for three years. The project aimed to empower older women survivors of gender-based violence to make them feel safe and secure, and to increase their knowledge and confidence. The final evaluation concluded that the programme was successful and efficient.

Women Judges Association of Malawi implemented the project “Women Judges Lead the Fight to Demand Justice and Accountability for Sexual Violence Survivors in Malawi” between March 2017 and February 2019, supported by the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women. The final evaluation found that the project achieved criminal justice reform, empowered women and girls to access justice, and increased the confidence of judges and magistrates to work with laws relating to gender-based violence.

From January 2016 to March 2019, the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women provided funding for “Fathers are Here for Gender Equality”, a project run by the Mother and Child Education Foundation (ACEV, a twice-funded grantee) to change men’s attitudes to gender equality and violence against women and girls. The final evaluation found positive changes in families; at least 10 per cent of fathers who had used violence according to their spouses stopped doing so after participating in the training.

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.

To address widespread female genital mutilation (FGM) in Tanzania’s Serengeti District, AMREF Health Africa ran the “Female Genital Mutilation Elimination Project in the Serengeti District” from January 2016 to December 2018, an initiative supported by the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women. The final evaluation found that the project significantly increased awareness of the adverse health effects and the human rights aspects of FGM among girls and young women.

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 UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women funded Grassroot Soccer’s initiative “SKILLZ Street Plus”. The project aimed to improve the ability of girls aged 13 to 16 to choose intimate partners who respect gender equality and to prevent and address violence in their lives. The final evaluation concluded that the programme was well implemented, with coaches efficiently delivering school-based sessions.

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 2014 to January 2017, the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women funded SOS-Esclaves’ initiative “Justice for Women Leaving Slavery” in Mauritania. The project was built on interconnected activities and international advocacy. The final evaluation found it had been particularly successful in providing legal and educational support for women and children through training, access to legal services and work with government institutions.

The UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women funded Najoti Kudakon’s initiative “Establishment of the Women's Support Group and improving of the shelter in Kulob city”. The project, implemented in partnership with Dunyoi Kudakon , aimed to support women and girls living in remote, mountainous areas of Tajikistan’s Kulob region. The final evaluation concluded that the programme was well implemented and successful.

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 UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women provided funding for “Women’s Empowerment in Afghanistan and Tajikistan for Displaced Persons through Legal Aid and Training to Combat Violence against Women” initiative from January 2013 – November 2015. The evaluation found the most significant change to be the increasing awareness of women’s rights and SBGV in Afghanistan.

The European Center for Minority Issues in Kosovo implemented the project "Empowering Minority Communities in Kosovo against Gender-Based Violence" between January 2014 and December 2015, with support from the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women. The final evaluation found that the project’s goals and outputs were achieved through consultation with project partners, cooperation with local stakeholders and input from paralegals.

The UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women funded Physicians for Human Rights’ three-year initiative “Formation of a Medico-Legal Network to Address Sexual Violence in Armed Conflict in Central and Eastern Africa” from September 2011 to August 2014. The project aimed to provide professionals with the resources, knowledge and skills needed to support survivors of sexual violence. The final evaluation concluded that a survivor-centred approach enabled the programme to achieve positive change in the targeted areas.