This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the Indashyikirwa program in enhancing women's empowerment and reducing Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) in conflict-affected communities in Northeast Syria.

The intervention group will participate in the Indashyikirwa ("Agents of Change") program, which includes a comprehensive couples' training module and access to safe spaces. The control group will not receive the Indashyikirwa program. Both intervention and control groups are beneficieries of Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) support and Vocational Training (VT) to promote economic empowerment.

The study employs a cluster-randomized controlled trial (cRCT) design. Out of 30 pre-identified villages, 15 villages were randomly assigned to receive the Indashyikirwa program and 15 villages will not receive the Indashyikirwa program. The villages were located within the same sub-districts to ensure a balanced geographic distribution of the intervention.

Based on a power analysis with 80% power, at least 16 married couples from eligible SME and VT beneficiaries will be voluntarily enrolled in each village to receive the Indashyikirwa intervention. Similarly, 16 eligible SME and VT married couples from control villages will be enrolled using the same voluntary participation principle. To account for potential attrition, 20 couples per village will be initially enrolled, ensuring a robust sample size for analysis. This approach results in a total sample size of 600 couples (or 1,200 individual participants).

The primary objective of this study is to assess the impact of Indashyikirwa program on key outcomes, including the reduction in IPV, transformation of gender norms, enhancement of women's empowerment, improvements in intra-household dynamics, economic benefits to the household.

Data collection will involve structured surveys administered separately to both husbands and wives. Surveys will be conducted at four time points: baseline, 2 months post-intervention, 12 months post-intervention, and 24 months post-intervention.

Two levels of eligibility:

1. At the village level:

   • Villages must be receiving the SME and VT programs by the implementing partners.
   • Villages must have at least 16 eligible couples (married women and their husbands).

2. At the individual level:

   • Women must be aged 18 or older.
   • Women must be currently married and residing in the same household as their husbands.
   • Women must be participants in the vocational training (VT) program and eligible for SME grants.

Exclusion Criteria

• Villages or individuals not meeting the inclusion criteria.
• Women who are unmarried, divorced, or widowed.
• Women who do not reside with their husbands in the same household.

Due to the sensitive nature of the data collected and the vulnerable context of the participants, IPD will not be shared to ensure confidentiality and safety of participants. The study complies with ethical guidelines and prioritizes safeguarding participants' privacy over data-sharing considerations.