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 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.

As a part of a six-year project, the Victims Support Section of the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia, in collaboration with the Transcultural Psychosocial Organization Cambodia and the Cambodian Defenders Project, implemented Phase 2 of the Non-Judicial Gender Project. The final evaluation concluded that the project significantly contributed to positive change in the lives of target groups through transitional justice activities and initiatives to improve their access to psychological services and rehabilitation.

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 Rainbow Sky Association of Thailand implemented the project “The Empowerment and Capacity Building of Lesbian and Transgender Women to Mitigate Violence, Stigma and Discrimination based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity” with funding from the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women. The final evaluation concluded that the project had positively influenced the government and increased the confidence and self-esteem of project participants.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Voice for Change implemented the project "Advocacy on Ending Violence against Women" between February 2013 and January 2016 in Jiwaka province of Papua New Guinea, with funding from the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women. The final evaluation found that the project significantly increased awareness through its training programme, and that the project became stronger and more resilient owing to direct community engagement.

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.

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 Enhancing a Community-Based, Multi-Sectoral Response to Gender-Based Violence in Ban Mae Nai Soi and Ban Mae Surin, Karenni Refugee Camps, was implemented by the International Rescue Committee 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 made a significant impact overall, including on the psychosocial wellbeing of survivors of violence who accessed services provided.

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