This is the first independent thematic evaluation on UNFPA support to prevention of, response to and elimination of gender-based violence and harmful practices (child marriage, Female Genital Mutilation and son preference) in development and humanitarian settings. 

Among several findings, the evaluation shows UNFPA has made significant contributions to the international system response to gender-based violence at all levels, including across the Humanitarian-Development-Peace nexus. UNFPA plays a critical role in coordinating response to gender-based violence in humanitarian situations. The evaluation further highlights UNFPA as the only UN agency that works across all three harmful practices. Working in partnership and through inclusive approaches are the dominant characteristics of UNFPA programming on GBV and harmful practices.

Going forward, the evaluation recommends UNFPA should progressively enhance its work on prevention of gender-based violence, including the entry point of psychosocial response for primary prevention (stopping violence from occurring in the first place). UNFPA should continue to strengthen the implementation of a continuum approach to address the Humanitarian-Development-Peace nexus, in order to, respond rapidly and appropriately to humanitarian crises, and to the opportunities they create for longer-term development programming on ending gender-based violence. UNFPA should reiterate the corporate priority placed on maintaining senior gender and GBV expertise in UNFPA staff positions at all levels in order to deliver on Strategic Plan commitments. UNFPA is also recommended to ensure that both staff profiles and procurement policies and practices respond appropriately to the requirements of sudden onset humanitarian emergencies. The evaluation also calls for greater commitment to sustainable and consistent funding to effectively address underlying social norms and advance behavior change on harmful practices.

These lessons from the evaluation are particularly relevant to inform the implementation of the current UNFPA Strategic Plan (2018–2021) as well as the development and implementation of policies and programmes at country, regional and global levels.

The evaluation report and related materials are available here.