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.

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.

FUSA para la salud integral con perspectiva de genero y derechos asociación civil (Civil Association for Integral Health with a Rights Perspective) implemented the three-year project “DeSeAr Project (Sexual Rights in Argentina) with Inclusion: Promoting Access to Sexual and Reproductive Rights for Women and Girls with Disabilities in Argentina” across four regions with the support of the UN Trust Fund from 2018 to 2021. The goal was to promote the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) rights of women and girls with disabilities. The final evaluation found that key service providers were better able to provide disability-inclusive, rights-based SRH information and services. Additionally, women and girls with disabilities were empowered to exercise and defend their rights.

The Strategic Initiative for Women in The Horn of Africa (SIHA) Network implemented the “Challenging Patterns and Drivers of Sexual Violence Against Women and Girls in Wau State, South Sudan” for over three years in 2018-2021 with the support of the UN Trust Fund. The project aimed to promote positive shifts in attitudes, behaviours and practices around sexual violence against women and girls in South Sudan’s Internally Displaced Person (IDP) communities, resulting in both an end to normalization and increased condemnation of sexual violence. The final evaluation found that the project was successfully implemented. 

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.

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.

The project “Give Payment Not Abuse: Protecting Informal Women Traders in Dar es Salaam from Violence against Women”, implemented by Equality for Growth Limited, was funded by the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women from January 2015 to December 2017. The final evaluation found that the project contributed to a better trading environment for female market traders.

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.

The project “Access to Justice for Girls and Women with Disabilities – Zimbabwe”, implemented by Leonard Cheshire Disability Zimbabwe, was funded from January 2015 to December 2017 by the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women. The final evaluation concluded that the project made significant changes to the lives of girls and women with disabilities, particularly relating to women’s empowerment, court cases, access to medical services, and capacity development of civil society organizations.

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.

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.

Women’s Initiative for Gender Justice received a grant from the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women for its project “Advancing Gender Justice in Countries under ICC investigation” from January 2013 to December 2015. The evaluation found that the project improved medical and psychological documentation of sexual assault, strengthened police investigations and increased the likelihood of justice and reparations for women and girl survivors of sexual violence.

The Belize government’s Women’s Department led the project “Implementation of National Gender-based Violence Plan of Action” with support from the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women. The final evaluation showed that training sessions considerably improved the ability of service providers to deliver sensitive services to women, and that permanent advocacy and education programmes are key to tackling gender-based violence.

The project Uruguay Unites to End Violence Against Women, Girls and Adolescents was implemented by the UN Country Team from January 2012 to December 2014 and received a three-year grant from the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women. The final evaluation found that the project made important progress and that the participation of multiple stakeholders from civil society, the Uruguay Government and the UN system was new and bold.

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.

Documenting and Addressing Violence and Other Rights Abuses as Experienced by Positive Women” was implemented by the AIDS Legal Network in three provinces of South Africa 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 the project was highly effective in developing a credible evidence base on violence against women and the intersections of violence and HIV; and engaged women and other stakeholders in capacity building, rights and legal literacy, and addressing access to services.