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 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.

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 project “Kick against Violence”, implemented by Skillshare Nepal, was funded by the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women from January 2016 to December 2017. The final evaluation concluded that the project contributed to behaviour change in girls and boys, specifically by increasing confidence to report gender-based violence and encouraging cooperation and respect among students.

The project “Abolition of Chhaupadi in the Far- and Mid-Western Regions of Nepal”, implemented by Restless Development Nepal, was funded from January 2015 to December 2017 by the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women. The final evaluation found the project had significantly increased rejection of chhaupadi practices and that the national law that criminalizes such practices was contributing to the sustainability of the project’s results.

Bangladesh Nari Progati Sangha implemented the project “Safe Schools Safe Communities” between January 2014 and December 2016 with grant support from the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women. The final evaluation found that the project succesfully addressed the specific needs of girls to allow them to be empowered and protected from gender-based violence in their schools and community.

In January 2015, Alliance against Discrimination of LGBT People launched the two-year project “Reduce Violence against Women, with Focus on LBT community in Albania”, with the support of the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women. The final evaluation found that the project improved the lives of LBT women experiencing violence, especially of those living outside the capital, mainly through improved and more integrated care.

Care International in Cambodia launched the initiative “Safe Workplaces, Safe Communities” in December 2013, supported with funds from the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women. The final evaluation found that the project contributed to a better awareness of gender-based violence within the targeted workplaces.

Between January 2015 and December 2016, the Mongolian Women’s Fund (MONES) implemented the “Securing State Investment to Prevent Gender-Based Violence in Schools” project, funded by the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women. The final evaluation found that the project changed boys’ and girls’ knowledge and perception of gender-based violence and helped them to acquire confidence in their right to enjoy a safe school environment.

Plan International received a grant from the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women for its three-year project “Gender Responsive School Pilot Model” in Viet Nam. The final evaluation found that the project was highly relevant and efficient at capacity development in the 20 schools with which it engaged, improving knowledge and influencing government policies.

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 project Father Training for Violence-Free Families was implemented in Turkey by the Mother Child Education Foundation (AÇEV) from September 2010 to September 2013 with a two-year grant from the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women. The final evaluation found that working with men to prevent gender-based violence related to awareness of and attitudes towards violence.