Evidence Brief: Can economic and social support mitigate intimate partner violence, challenge harmful gender attitudes, and improve household welfare in Syria?

This evidence brief presents findings from rigorous evaluations of two VAWG prevention pilots implemented through FCDO’s Building Local Resilience in Syria (BLRS) Programme. The evaluations were conducted by the International Security and Development Center (ISDC), with technical advisory support from the What Works to Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls Helpdesk. Combining economic support with couples’ curricula, the interventions sought to strengthen household relationships, promote gender-equitable attitudes, reduce intimate partner violence and improve economic wellbeing. Drawing on cluster randomised controlled trials involving 1,191 couples, the brief highlights what worked, what did not and the implications for designing and scaling integrated VAWG prevention and livelihoods programming in conflict-affected settings.