UNFPA - UN Women Joint Programme on Gender Based Violence in Uganda 2018-2023

The Program has had an impact on the policy and legal environment in Uganda, which is an important part of the program. However, it seem like they are content with the fact that a law etc are in existence, but we would have wanted a more thorough analysis on what this has led to and changed. We did send a 2 pager with comments to UNFPA, in which we were asking them to consider our comments and where our main concern was around the impact of the program. UNFPA/UNWomen did give a satisfactory response to our questions, for instance that the project contributed to an increasing number of adolescent girls and women reached with life skills programmes that build their health, social and economic assets with support from the programme from 0 at baseline to 15,388 people in 2023. Further, that the ability of women, girls, boys and men to respond to GBV cases through the SASA!(Start, Awareness, Support and Action) methodology increased from the presupport phase of 49% to post support phase to 83% a clear indication that investments in social norms change using tested methodologies is possible. These results were described in the report but a more thorough analysis aorund what prompted these results would have improved the report. The extensive response to our queries were satisfying and, hence, the Report was approved. The program has had an impact on peoples lives and then mainly women and girls that have benefitted from the program. The ELA (Empowerment and Livelihood for Adolescents) clubs for youth and SASA! (which are community methods) to involve and engage communities has been instrumental in creating awareness, commitment and response to GBV and SRHR. The communities are, through the work by UNJPGBV aware of GBV, and howand what to do do when they detect instances of GBV. The participating districts and communities are made aware of their rights and people in these places have a better understanding of their reproductive rights, and to some extent their sexual rights, including family planning. The assessment is that the UNJPGBV has played an important role in peoples lives and have increased the understanding of GBV and SRHR where the interventions took place.

The overall goal of this joint programme is to contribute to the elimination of GBV and improvement of SRHR of women, men, girls and boys, including disadvantaged and vulnerable populations, in Uganda. This will be achieved through four specific programme outcomes: - An enabling policy, legislative and accountability environment for elimination of GBV and improvement of SRHR is translated into action - Reduced social tolerance for Gender Based Violence and improved sexual reproductive health and rights - Increased utilization of quality integrated GBV and SRHR services in the target districts - Strengthened coordination, partnerships, learning and innovation for integrated SRHR and GBV multi-sectoral response and prevention At the end of the five year long joint programme a ten percent decrese is expected in men and women between 15 and 49 years of age who have experienced any form of violence (sexual, physical and/or emotional) during the past 12 months. The teenage pregnancy rate is expected to reduce from 25 percent to 20 percent and the HIV prevalence rate of women and men between 15 and 49 years is expected to decrease from 6 to 5 percent. The joint programme will also contribute to improving the Maternal Mortality Ratio from 336 to 325 deaths per 100 000 live births as well as reducing the unmet need for family planning from 28 to 15 percent.