SGBV Prevention and Entrepreneurship Integration Project has ended with promising results in Somaliland – Final Evaluation

Sexual and gender-based violence Prevention and Entrepreneurship Integration project was implemented during 2020­2022 by ISF implementing partner Taakulo Somali Community in Burao district.

The project aimed to address the root causes of gender-based violence and FGM: poverty, substance abuse, and the patriarchal society.

The project intended to change people’s perception by working with various community-level structures including parents and youth groups. The project also aimed at strengthening coordination among actors such as civil society and regional authorities by reviving the coordination platforms. The project also addressed the economic challenges by providing business training for female small business owners and members of women’s self-help groups (SHG).

• The percentage of parents aiming to save their daughters from the FGM increased from 14 % to 32 %.
• The percentage of SHG members reporting a decrease in intimate partner violence increased from 39 % to 65 %.
• The percentage of SHG members reporting a decreased risk of non-partner sexual violence, increased from 46 % to 90 %.
• 90 % of SGH members reported improved income, rising from $155 to $295 on average per month.

In measuring the project’s impact, evaluation findings revealed the project has successfully reached its goal by contributing to the reduction of FGM and SGVB and improvement in the livelihood skills of vulnerable women in the target communities. All participants to the evaluation data collection sessions noted that the project immensely contributed to change in beliefs and perception regarding SGBV and FGM.