1. Introduction

1.1 Purpose of the Evaluation

This report presents the results of the evaluation of the Gender-based Violence (GBV) Initiatives (Justice Partnership and Innovation Program (JPIP)). The evaluation was conducted in accordance with the Treasury Board’s Policy on Results (2016), which requires departments to measure and evaluate performance and use the resulting information to manage and improve programs, policies, and services. The evaluation was undertaken by Justice Canada’s Evaluation Branch between September 2024 and March 2025, as per Justice Canada’s Internal Audit and Evaluation Plan.

1.2 Evaluation Scope

The evaluation covers four fiscal years (FYs) from 2021-22 to 2024-25. The objective of the evaluation was to examine the relevance, design and delivery, and effectiveness of two JPIP funding streams announced through Budget 2021: 1) Independent Legal Advice (ILA) and Independent Legal Representation (ILR); as well as 2) additional supports for victims of intimate partner violence (IPV) going through the family justice system (Additional Supports). Two other funding streams announced through Budget 2021 that were provided through the Victims Fund and Canadian Family Justice Fund are out of scope of this evaluation.Footnote 1  The evaluation also included an assessment of the extent to which Gender-based Analysis (GBA) Plus was considered in the design and delivery of the two JPIP funding streams.

The scope and conduct of the evaluation were informed by an Evaluation Working Group which included representatives in Justice Canada from the Innovations, Analysis, and Integration Directorate within the Programs Branch.