In Colombia, Corporación Con-Vivamos implemented a four-year project, “Women and men breaking the mould to eradicate sexist violence against women and girls in Colombia”, with the support of the UN Trust Fund and in association with five other local civil society organizations. The project aimed to transform social attitudes that normalize gender inequality and violence against women. The final evaluation found that despite structural and operational challenges, the project’s objectives were covered effectively and its activities were achieved.

In Guatemala, the Movimiento de mujeres indígenas TZUNUNIJA/IXTZUNUN implemented the “Mayan women and girls conscious, active and propositional in the prevention and de-naturalization of violence and femicide” project in 2020-2023, which aimed to end the diverse forms of violence affecting Indigenous women and girls and empower them to demand, enjoy and protect their human rights. The final evaluation found that the project contributed to an effective engagement with Indigenous authorities and helped to make the Guatemalan feminist movement visible to Indigenous women and girls advocating for women’s rights.

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.

Nepal Disabled Women Association implemented a three-year project, “Inclusive Partnership Against Violence Among Women and Girls with Disability’ (InPAV)”, with the support of the UN Trust Fund. The project aimed to increase community awareness and capacity to combat violence against women and girls with disabilities (WGWD), strengthen governance and gender-based violence mechanisms, and improve knowledge and evidence on violence against WGWD to influence policies and programmes. The final evaluation found that the project helped service providers and decision-makers to sensitively address the needs of WGWD survivors of violence, and influenced policymakers to promote WGWD’s access to support and resources.

The National Union of Women with Disabilities of Uganda implemented a three-year project, “Reducing Violence Against Women and Girls with Disabilities in Amuria District of Uganda”, with the support of the UN Trust Fund. The project aimed to decrease physical, sexual, psychological and emotional violence against women and girls with disabilities (WGWD) in the three sub-counties in Amuria district by 2021. The final evaluation found that the project fully met its objectives and was instrumental in addressing the practical and most pressing needs of WGWD.

Initiative pour un Développement Equitable en Haïti (IDEH) implemented a three-year project, “Equal opportunities and access to response mechanisms and institutions to combat violence against women for women and girls with disabilities”, with the support of the UN Trust Fund. The project aimed to enable women and girls living with disabilities to access institutional services in cases of violence against women and girls. The final evaluation found that the project had left the communities of women and girls living with disabilities better aware of their rights and more cognizant of the discrimination and violence they had faced.

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.

The Asian-Pacific Resource and Research Center for Women (ARROW) implemented a three-year project, “Prevention of all forms of violence against women and girls with disabilities in Bangladesh (PROVA)”, with the support of the UN Trust Fund. The project aimed to ensure access to justice for women and girls living with disabilities who face violence, abuse, neglect, discrimination and exploitation. The final evaluation found that the project had enhanced awareness and knowledge of, and support for, disability rights, while effectively addressing abuse and improving the reproductive health of women and girls living with disabilities.

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.

In Zimbabwe, Voluntary Services Overseas in collaboration with Women and Law in Southern Africa implemented the “SPEAK IT LOUD” project with the support of the UN Trust Fund under the Spotlight Initiative. This three-year project centred on amplifying the voices of women’s movements to address violence against women and girls in Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland West and Manicaland provinces in Zimbabwe. The final evaluation found that, despite the challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the denial of a no-cost extension, the project achieved in part its goals.

The Cameroon Association for the Protection and Education of the Child (CAPEC) implemented the three-year project “Community-based Prevention of Sexual Violence on Women and Girls” in Cameroon between 2020 and 2022 with the support of the UN Trust Fund. The project aimed to improve: access to services for survivors of violence against women and girls; and existing policies and laws to guarantee friendly environments for women and girls. The final evaluation found that project had achieved its main objectives and constructively addressed the challenges posed by COVID-19.

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.

From March 2017 to February 2019, the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women provided Corporación Humanas with funding to implement their project “It Happens to Me, I tell, I prevent”. The project aimed to reduce public forms of gender-based violence against women with disabilities, women living with HIV/AIDS, and other groups of women that are particularly vulnerable to violence. The final evaluation found that the project had strengthened the capabilities of local women’s organizations, empowering their members to lead more effective initiatives to prevent gender-based violence.

From January 2016 to January 2019, the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women worked with the National Network for the Promotion of Women (RNPM), helping fund its project “Older Women who have Experienced Violence Exercising their Rights”. The final evaluation found that the project was largely successful, and through its training and empowerment strategies it reached 415 women who had experienced gender-based violence.

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.

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.

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.

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.