NORC evaluated USAID’s Collective Action to Reduce Gender-Based Violence (CARE-GBV) Activity which awarded grants to new, local, and underutilized partners to promote learning, improve staff wellness and resiliency in GBV programming, and fill global data gaps related to self- and collective care and wellness for staff of GBV organizations.
NORC was contracted by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to complete a Portfolio Performance Evaluation of gender-based violence (GBV) programming comprising four activity clusters. This evaluation focuses on the Collective Action to Reduce Gender-Based Violence (CARE-GBV) Activity. The Small Grants Program awarded grants ($50,000–$125,000) through an open call. With activities implemented between July 2021 and July 2022, and the evaluation taking place shortly afterwards.
The evaluation addressed whether the activity was based on context-specific and international evidence, the extent to which the activity was achieving the targeted GBV results, and sustainability. NORC applied a mixed-methods approach to answer the research questions, using a combination of desk review, key informant interviews (KIIs), and a web-based survey.
“As a lawyer who works on gender-based and domestic violence cases on a daily basis, it was extremely important for me to gain knowledge about how I can help myself using the mechanisms for mental and emotional relief and stress.”
Survey Respondent
What worked
All grantees conducted some form of a needs assessment which was beneficial to understanding participant needs, contextual factors, and existing evidence or programming on vicarious trauma.
Grantees appreciated the flexibility to adapt their programming activities and outcomes to meet participant needs. This was particularly helpful during the COVID-19 pandemic which allowed grantees to respond to evolving needs of GBV responders and survivors.
Many staff had not learned about vicarious trauma or how to cope with the stressors of their job prior to this activity. Overwhelmingly, staff found that the course content and trainings increased their overall resilience and wellness.
Even though all grantees implemented activities that were highly specific to their contexts and needs, they all believed that the activities could be adapted, scaled, and replicated globally.
What did not work
It was difficult for small organizations to sustain monitoring processes after their project had ended. Many grantees were unable to collect post-training feedback and monitor training indicators once the program had ended.
Asynchronous, self-paced courses or tools were less effective than other activities due to low participation rates. These types of courses also reported high drop-off rates in users who began the course, leading to low completion rates of all modules.
Knowledge retention from trainings and workshops may dwindle over time. Refresher courses and trainings are recommended to emphasize self-care and wellness practices for staff and can be included as part of an onboarding process for all new staff.
“Working with vulnerable people and providing support in various crises situations, we concluded that they need additional support during the pandemic because the level of violence had increased. We had to take steps to mitigate risks for our clients, but also for our staff.”
Grantee Key Informant Interview (KII)
Project Contact
Suggested Citation
Bansal, V., Jardine, B., & Austin, S. (2023). Gender-Based Violence Portfolio Performance Evaluation: CARE-GBV Final Evaluation Report (p. 125). NORC at the University of Chicago.
External Links
Gender-Based Violence Portfolio Performance Evaluation: CARE-GBV Final Evaluation Report
Small Grants Programs for Raising Awareness of Vicarious Trauma Brief