Terms of reference published: UK aid to tackle violence against women and girls

16 Feb 2026

The Independent Commission for Aid Impact (ICAI) has today published more information about our forthcoming review assessing how UK development assistance tackles violence against women and girls.  

Across the world, women and girls’ rights are under threat. Funding to women’s rights organisations is in decline and gender-based violence is worsening due to global crises, rising levels of conflict, and emerging forms including technology-enabled violence. Ending violence against women and girls has consistently been a stated policy priority for the UK government since 2010. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has reinforced in recent months that tackling violence against women and girls must be ‘at the heart’ of British foreign policy and has established the ‘All In’ global alliance to galvanise political commitment and investment.   

This review will assess the effectiveness of the UK’s development assistance to tackle violence against women and girls and develop evidence-based recommendations to inform current and future strategy and delivery. It will look at whether the UK has delivered against its objectives, how well tackling violence against women is integrated into the overall UK aid portfolio, and how the UK works in partnership in this area, alongside other themes. ICAI last reviewed the UK’s work on violence against women and girls in 2016. This review will complement the ongoing International Development (IDC) inquiry on Women, Peace and Security.

We expect to publish this review in autumn 2026. 

Read the terms of reference for the full review.