Celebrating Pasefika Proud: 10 Years On Evaluation

Pasefika Proud is a Pacific-led family violence prevention initiative that supports Pacific families and communities to be safe, resilient and thriving through culturally grounded, strengths-based and community-led approaches. As part of MSD's Pacific Prosperity Strategy, it supports Pacific communities to lead solutions that strengthen wellbeing, build capability and contribute to long-term positive outcomes for Pacific peoples. For more information about Pasefika Proud, visit: [www.pasefikaproud.co.nz]

The Ministry of Social Development commissioned Celebrating Pasefika Proud: 10 Years On to understand the outcomes and impacts achieved through Pasefika Proud over the period 2011-2022. The Evaluation examined the contribution of Pasefika Proud to strengthening Pacific family and community wellbeing, preventing family violence, building community capability and supporting Pacific-led solutions. The Evaluation contributes to MSD's evidence base for family violence prevention and Pacific wellbeing and provides findings to inform future policy development, commissioning, service delivery and family violence prevention practice.

The independent evaluation was undertaken by Moana Connect using Pacific research and evaluation approaches, including the Tivaivai Framework, Fa'afaletui and Appreciative Inquiry. The evaluation involved engagement with Pacific families, community partners, facilitators, researchers and MSD stakeholders, alongside analysis of programme documentation, contracts and grants, and contextual analysis using the Integrated Data Infrastructure (IDI). The evaluation was also supported by a Pasefika Proud Evaluation Advisory Group comprising Pacific leaders with expertise in evaluation, cultural knowledge and community development.

Key findings

The Evaluation found that Pasefika Proud is achieving positive outcomes for Pacific families, communities and partners through a prevention-focused, strengths-based and Pacific-led approach.

• Pasefika Proud has successfully mobilised Pacific communities, providers, churches and researchers to lead culturally grounded responses to family violence and strengthen family and community wellbeing.
• Pacific families who participated in Pasefika Proud-funded initiatives reported stronger communication, greater intergenerational understanding, increased cultural pride and belonging, improved awareness of healthy relationships, and enhanced spiritual wellbeing through faith-based and culturally safe approaches.
• The Ngā Vaka o Kāiga Tapu (NVOKT) frameworks and training programme were identified as making a unique and significant contribution to Pacific family violence prevention in Aotearoa New Zealand. More than 1,300 practitioners and community leaders have participated in NVOKT training since 2016.
• Pasefika Proud has strengthened the capability of Pacific providers, churches and community organisations by supporting leadership development, improving governance and organisational capability, and creating a connected and confident network of Pacific partners committed to family violence prevention.
• The evaluation provides a strong evidence base to inform future policy, commissioning, workforce development, service design, monitoring and evaluation activity across the Pacific family violence prevention system.

The Evaluation concluded that Pasefika Proud is a well-established Pacific-led family violence prevention initiative that is making a meaningful contribution to strengthening Pacific wellbeing and preventing family violence and is well positioned to deepen its impact through continued community leadership, capability development and evidence-informed practice.

Download the report

The following documents are available for download: