In Mexico, the Instituto para las Mujeres en la Migración, A.C. (IMUMI) implemented the project “Contribution to the international protection of migrant women survivors of gender-based violence in Mexico” from 2019 to 2022 with the support of the UN Trust Fund. The project aimed to build a support strategy for migrant women and girls who had survived gender-based violence so they have greater access to international protection in Mexico. The final evaluation found that despite structural and operational challenges, the project’s activities were achieved and its objectives were covered effectively.

In Eswatini, Madagascar and South Africa, Gender Links implemented the three-year project “Sunrise Campaign: Local Action to End Violence and Empower Women” with the support of the UN Trust Fund. The project aimed to enhance gender-responsive governance at local levels, improve women’s economic empowerment through building entrepreneurial and life skills, and improve gender attitudes. The final evaluation found that the project’s objectives were covered effectively and its activities were achieved.

Women for Afghan Women implemented a three-year project, “Prevention and Response to Gender-Based Violence in Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and Returnee Communities (PARGIRC)”, with the support of the UN Trust Fund. The project aimed to improve access of vulnerable populations to essential, safe and adequate multi-sectorial services. The final evaluation found that the project raised awareness about gender-based violence and helped survivors to access legal assistance and psychotherapy.

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.

The Centro de Estudios Legales y Sociales (CELS) implemented a four-year project, “The reform of hospital and legal practices to eradicate violence against women with mental disabilities isolated at the Dr. Alejandro Korn Psychiatric Hospital, Buenos Aires, Argentina”, with the support of the UN Trust Fund. The project aimed to improve the quality of life of women with psychosocial disabilities who use the hospital, and increase their chances of living free of violence within the hospital and in their communities. The final evaluation found that the project effectively covered its objectives and achieved its planned activities.

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.

Refugee Consortium of Kenya implemented the three-year project “Towards Improved Prevention of Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Among Urban Refugees Project” in Nairobi and Garissa counties, with the support of the UN Trust Fund, from 2018 to 2021. The programme primarily aimed to enhance community-based support for women and girl survivors of violence, particularly refugees and asylum seekers; improve reporting and conviction rates of gender-based violence cases; and strengthen the coping mechanisms and practical skillsets of survivors. A final evaluation revealed that the project substantially increased the knowledge and awareness of gender-based violence among women and girl survivors, as well as key judicial, medical, official and religious actors, which in turn improved survivors’ perception of self-worth, their confidence in institutional mechanisms, and their ability to seek and access support.

In Morocco, Association Ennakhil implemented the three-year project “Combating gender-based violence in schools through the promotion of positive masculinity in Marrakech Safi region” in 2018-2021 with the support of the UN Trust Fund. The project worked with boys, girls, community members and media personnel to promote positive masculinity and improve attitudes and behaviours related to gender equality, to prevent gender-based violence in schools. The final evaluation revealed that the project successfully contributed to a positive shift in attitudes towards gender equality among school students and key communications, legal, medical and government actors.

HIAS Refugee Trust of Kenya (HRTK) implemented the three-year “Community-Based Prevention of Violence against Refugee Women and Girls in Nairobi" project in 2019-2022 with the support of the UN Trust Fund. The project aimed to change the gendered drivers of violence against women and girls in urban refugee communities. The final evaluation found the project interventions were relevant to the communities’ needs and were successfully implemented.

With the support of the UN Trust Fund, the organization Dynamique des Femmes Juristes implemented a three-year project "Mettons fin aux VBG chez nous maintenant" (Let's end GBV in our country now) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo between 2019 and 2022. The project aimed to improve the safety of women and girls in North Kivu by addressing domestic violence, sexual violence and harmful practices such as forced marriage. The final evaluation found that the performance of the project was satisfactory, indicating that it was an outstanding success in many ways.

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.

Woman Forum Elbasan (WFE) implemented the three-year project 'Improved access for women and girl survivors of violence in Elbasan Region’ in Albania, with the support of the UN Trust Fund between 2018 and 2021.

The Pacific Regional Rights Resource Team of the Pacific Community implemented the three-year initiative “Increasing women's access to justice: a project to implement the FPA in Solomon Islands” with support from the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women and the Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The final evaluation found that this pilot project helped to advance provisions of the country’s 2014 Family Protection Act (FPA) and contributed towards its implementation.

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.