AQW 42313/22-27


Ms Paula Bradshaw
Alliance Party
South Belfast


Tabled Date: 11/03/2026
Answered On Date: 26/03/2026
Priority Written: No


Question:
To ask the First Minister and deputy First Minister to detail any role the Strategic Investment Board had, or has, in the development of the Ending Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy.


Answer:
A range of experienced Strategic Investment Board (SIB) staff have worked on the EVAWG programme, to provide expertise across several key areas.
The integration of a full time Strategic Communications and Engagement Specialist assisted in establishing the EVAWG identity, fostering meaningful stakeholder engagement, and managing the successful co-design process. This includes delivering on the communications and campaigns elements of the Delivery Plan, raising awareness and providing information at a societal level, whilst ensuring that there is strong consistent messaging.
Other temporary support has been provided to support the strategic communications and engagement work-strand, as well as the development of the Change Fund.
Additionally, a part time Data Scientist has worked with the EVAWG team to develop a comprehensive and robust framework for measuring impact.
EVAWG engaged SIB to provide specialist support in developing the suite of Outline Business Cases relating to preparatory works and to the first Delivery Plan. These documents have been crucial in establishing the programme’s foundation, with clear, robust and well supported evidence to support delivery.
SIB also supported EVAWG on an ad-hoc basis including the development of the Equality Impact Assessment, a Policy Landscape Review, General Frontline Services Landscape Review, and the Evaluation of Belfast and Lisburn Women’s Aid Victims Support worker project.
The Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) process is being managed on behalf of The Executive Office by the Strategic Investment Board, who are the appointed Centre of Procurement Excellence for SBRIs here.
SIB support to the EVAWG team has decreased during this financial year and we can confirm that no further embedded support will be provided from 1 April 2026.