The Episcopal Relief & Development organization in Liberia implemented a three-year project entitled “Scaling Up Faith and Youth Leaders' Engagement to Prevent and Respond to Violence Against Women and Girls in Liberia” from 2018 to 2022 with the support of the UN Trust Fund. This second phase project aimed to reduce instances of intimate partner violence and non-partner sexual violence experienced by women and girls while enhancing their access to services. The final evaluation found that the project demonstrated the power of investing in faith leaders and youth in catalysing community change to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls.

In the Murewa, Goromonzi and Kwekwe/Zibagwe districts of Zimbabwe, the Family AIDS Caring Trust (FACT) implemented a three-year project, “Voices from the Fringes: Sex Workers and Adolescent Girls and Young Women Action against Sexual and Gender-Based Violence”, supported by the UN Trust Fund under the Spotlight Initiative. This project aimed to promote women’s sexual and reproductive health rights and address sexual and gender-based violence by bringing the marginalized voices and concerns of female sex workers, adolescent girls and young women from the fringes to the fore in the interventions to end such violence. The final evaluation found that the project’s objectives were covered effectively and that the project surpassed its target of 18 solidarity groups for female sex workers, adolescent girls and young women.

In Uganda, the African Partners for Child Poverty implemented a three-year project “Combating Stigma Against Sexual Violence Survivors and their Children in Gulu District, Northern Uganda” with the support of the UN Trust Fund. The project aimed to reduce stigma against women and girl survivors of sexual violence. The final evaluation found that, despite the challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the project was successfully implemented.

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.

Between April 2017 and April 2020, the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women funded the “Ranavalona Project: prevention, care and access to justice for girl survivors of sexual exploitation in Madagascar”, implemented by ECPAT France. The project primarily targeted 97 child survivors of sexual exploitation through a psychosocial and socioeconomic reintegration programme. The final evaluation found that the project’s strategies were successful and particularly efficient.

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.

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.

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.

Between January 2016 and December 2018, the Africa Alliance of YMCAs implemented the project “A Real Man Is” in Zambia and Kenya, with funding from the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women. The final evaluation found that the project left women and girls feeling safer and better protected from violence, and increased the engagement of men and boys in initiatives aimed at protecting women from physical and sexual violence.

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 “Engaging Faith-Based Organizations to Prevent Violence against Women & Girls and Increase Survivors’ Access to Services”, implemented by Episcopal Relief and Development, was funded from January 2015 to December 2017 by the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women. The final evaluation found that local participation in faith-based activities – where awareness was raised about gender-based violence and available support services – resulted in significantly less violence against women and girls.

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.

Society Without Violence received funding from the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women for its initiative “Integration of gender and gender-based violence subject into educational curriculum in the frames of National 211-215 Strategic Plan” in Armenia from January 2014 to December 2016. The project aimed to empower girls to understand violence and prevent intimate partner and non-partner gender-based violence. The final evaluation found that the project increased awareness on issues related to gender and gender-based violence.

From December 2013 to March 2015, the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women provided funding to the Ukrainian Women Fund for its initiative “Young Girls Leaders Promote Strong Stand against VAW among their Peers”. The final evaluation found that the project strategies were particularly efficient in promoting ideas of gender equality and zero-tolerance to violence against women and girls.