Review of the dfat ending Violence Against Women (evaw) Program in Afghanistan

Conclusion

What’s more, there are gendered dimensions of war and peace,²³ and the reduction of VAW is intrinsically linked to the reduction of violence at the social and state levels. Over the past decade, research has emerged examining the link between women and security, particularly through the lens of gender equality and inter- and intra-state conflict. One study found that the oppression of women is a template for other types of oppression, such as authoritarianism.²⁴ Another study found that countries with exaggerated gender inequality experience higher levels of societal instability and lower prospects for both peace and democracy.²⁵ In another study on gender, conflict and security, the physical security of women was found to be strongly associated with the peacefulness of the state, the degree to which the state is of concern to the international community, and the quality of relations between the state and its neighbors. The results of this study found that if one were to pick one variable between level of democracy, level of wealth, prevalence of Islamic culture, or the physical security of women to predict the least peaceful state of most concern to the international community and with the worst relations with their neighboring states, the physical security of women is the most reliable.²⁶

There have been considerable investments in the EVAW sector in Afghanistan, to which DFAT has provided critical support, which this evaluation has found to be overall effective and contributing towards the collective increased capacity of service providers and government institutions to effectively respond to VAW while also supporting the transformation of social norms in support of more positive gender role attitudes that contribute to the reduction of VAW. At the midterm stage, this review concludes that the program has made considerable progress to date, and is demonstrating progress towards the overall goal of a sustained reduction in VAW

In Afghanistan, particularly in coordination with other development partners and in consideration of wider programming and support to the EVAW sector.

Overall, the theory of change is generally robust and the underlying assumptions were largely validated by the findings of this review, though the anticipated increased utilization of services in tandem with their improved quality and availability will also require considerable shifts in social norms and cultural context that further promote positive gender role attitudes and condemn VAW. Taken as a whole, the program comprises a range of mutually reinforcing activities that constitute a holistic approach to combating VAW at all levels, from grassroots and traditional actors engaged to the structural, social, and institutional levels in Afghanistan.

However, the midterm review also found some key gaps and a need to realign and refine the PAF to ensure that activities are consistent with the intermediate outcomes and planned outcomes of the program, and that this progress is documented, monitored and reviewed on a consistent basis. The present monitoring system and PAF are heavily activity- and output-focused, and particularly as the program moves further towards the endline stage, it is critical to shift this focus from implementation to a results-based approach that captures the information necessary to assess impacts and contributions at the outcome level. This will support the identification of the areas of greatest potential for continuance and scaling up of specific activities beyond the life of the current DFAT EVAW program, with the findings of this review providing a formative basis.

In terms of sustainability, the program is limited in terms of a feasible exit strategy. Though the program has been effectively coordinated with key government stakeholders, it is critical that in the next stage of programming, further efforts are focused on facilitating buy-in from government stakeholders and promoting ownership. The current nature of off-budget support and considerable level of EVAW sector activities being undertaken outside of government institutions and with dependence on continued support will present further challenges to the sustainability of programming in the long-term. The program is similarly well-coordinated with other development partners and programming, though there are opportunities for more strategic and targeted coordination specifically related to EVAW among development partners that could further support the coherence of all programming in the EVAW sector and the identification and addressing of key gaps.

The elimination of VAW in Afghanistan requires sustained and considerable ongoing financial, technical, and political support. The contributions of development partners, international organizations, and Afghan civil society in this area are currently indispensable, where the government of Afghanistan is currently not in the position to deliver key services to survivors of VAW. The elimination of VAW is critical not only for women, but also for Afghan society and the peacefulness and stability of Afghanistan. The DFAT EVAW program is making important contributions in this regard, which should be sustained and continued over the long-term, with enduring support required to see the actualization of ending violence against women in Afghanistan.