Examining promising practice: an integrated review of services for young survivors of sexual violence in Liberia

In 2012, an integrated review of programmes for young survivors of sexual violence in Liberia was conducted in order to identify promising practice within the context of current prevention and response initiatives. A total of 279 programme related materials were examined as part of a structured document review. In addition, 40 key informant interviews were conducted with representatives from government ministries, United Nations agencies and nongovernmental organisations. The authors found a low number of programme evaluations demonstrating measureable change as a result of particular interventions. Key informants described programmes believed to be effective and identified challenges with the current system, although additional research and evaluation is needed in order to determine the impact of these initiatives. In conclusion, the study highlights the need to strengthen existing programme evaluation efforts in order to examine the impact of current interventions, and ultimately contribute to a reduction in violence.