Mid-Term evaluation of the ending domestic violence project in Rwanda

Background:
Ending Domestic Violence (EDV) project was initiated in 2005 in response to the realization that domestic violence (DV); including physical, economic, sexual and psychological violence was a key challenge to more than one-third of Rwandese women. The goal of the project was to add impetus to the national struggle against gender based violence.

Purpose/objective:
The primary objective of this evaluation was to assess the strategies employed, achievements and challenges encountered during implementation of the project. The purpose was to document performance and derives recommendations that would enable NPA and partners reflect on lessons learnt, as well as advise strategy reformulation and re-investment in the continuation phase.

Methodology:
The evaluation applied a cross-sectional design with both quantitative and qualitative approaches. The evaluation targeted three categories of participants, including project implementers, partners and community members. Project implementers included NPA staff, staff of the three IPs and volunteers, including focal points and animators. Project partners included Ministry of Gender, Social Development, Police Department, local administrators, as well as NGOs and CBOs. Community members included beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries aged 18 to 70 years, irrespective of gender.

Key findings:
The MTE found that DV was experienced in various forms by women; the most common form being physical assault, including acts of physical violence such as slapping, punching, beating, kicking, strangling, hitting with objects and cutting. Physical assault was triggered by various behaviors and circumstances, including women questioning use of family resources due to men’s alcoholism and habits of concubinage. 

Focus Group Discussions and Key Informant Interview sessions revealed that the extent to which the project prevented DV in target areas may be indicated by a significant reduction in the number of cases reported to focal points, animators and government authorities in all sectors hosting the project. Dissemination of laws and policies improved knowledge about women’s rights, which in turn, enhanced prevention of DV in a number of ways. Up to 46.2% of the participants believed that the information improved their ability to advice other community members on DV-related laws; another 33.3% were able to train other people on women’s rights.

Recommendations:
1. Training and retraining volunteers in skill areas such as M&E, documentation and reporting, fundraising techniques; basics of project and financial management, among others should be considered to make them more valuable to the project. In particular, the training should target young volunteers, as a proactive measure towards sustainability.
2. Strengthening EDV networks will also require NPA and partners to establish periodic recognition of effort towards EDV based on preset performance targets, which may be awarded through trophies, certificates, exchange visits or recognition during important events attended by government representatives and other stakeholders. Such forums may also serve as platforms for linking EDV networks with potential funding and technical partners.
3. Strengthen linkages with local authorities, including local administrators, police gender desks, Access to Justice Offices and courts; through sustained collaboration and creation of an umbrella network at the district level to support EDV networks, ensure timely response to issues arising and coordinate activities of EDV networks to avoid duplication of effort and conflicts. 

Comments from the organisation, if any:
1. In general, recommendations are many even though relevant. NPA and partners will decide on their implementation frame time: immediate, short-term, medium-term and long-term. It will be also necessary to decide which recommendation has to be implemented fully or in phases (partly and progressively).
2. Although the evaluation shows improved situation of domestic violence, it also shows a wide gap especially in overcoming the traditional/cultural/social norms that continue to fuel domestic violence and gender based violence in general.