Now Girls Know Their Rights - Lessons From an Intervention on Child Marriage and Female Genital Mutilation in Mara Region, Tanzania

"Child marriage and FGM are deeply engrained traditions that are fuelled by a mix of social norms on sexuality, social pressure, and structural factors including poverty, lack of options and an ineffective legal framework. The combination of FGM and child marriage in Tanzania results in girls not being able to continue their education, lacking economic opportunities and being vulnerable to maternal health problems as well as domestic violence."

This report was produced as part of the three-year project, Mobilising Action to Safeguard Rights of Girls in Tanzania, which was implemented by FORWARD, Children’s Dignity Forum (CDF), and Chama Cha Uzazi na Malezi Bora Tanzania (UMATI). The project sought to mobilise multiple stakeholders to promote the rights of girls and young women to be safe from the multiple forms of violence they face in rural communities, including female genital mutilation (FGM), child marriage, and lack of economic opportunities. This report shares lessons from the project and provides insights into the project strategies, structures, outcomes, and challenges. It includes participant narratives and case studies collected through a participatory evaluation process.

As stated in the report, “Child marriage and female genital mutilation (FGM) are deeply entrenched practices in many regions in Tanzania despite the country having signed numerous regional and international human rights agreements limiting or banning it. While the Tanzanian government is working towards addressing this situation, existing laws are inadequate. Millions of girls continue to be affected by and are at risk of FGM, child marriage and early motherhood. They are at risk of violence, vulnerability and lack of options.”

To address this, the project undertook the following activities:

• Training young women and girls on multiple skills: leadership, entrepreneurship, vocational and advocacy skills, sexual and reproductive health (SRH), and rights;
• Mobilising and sensitising key community leaders, parents, and government and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) on women's and girls’ rights and entitlements;
• Community outreach to increase awareness of women’s rights, SRH, FGM, and child marriage;
• Networking and collaboration with partners and stakeholders at all levels;
• Signposting and referral of women and girls to services such as family planning and legal advice and support;
• Establishing and supporting the running of girls’ clubs and networks for young women involved in economic activity.

The report outlines the project's Theory of Change (ToC) (a comprehensive description and illustration of how and why a desired change is expected to happen in a particular context), which was based on what is known as ‘the social-ecological model’. This model focuses on the ultimate aim to stop violence before it begins, so prevention means looking at and understanding the multiple levels of issues and prevention interventions. The project focused on three levels of intervention: individual girls, relationships, and society with a focus on social norms, support services, and the policy environment. It used a rights-based approach by enabling girls to have information, skills, and confidence to demand their rights. The project approach was also based on the partnership and active involvement of the girls themselves, as well as stakeholders at both the local and national level, which proved instrumental to project achievements.

In brief, the project evaluation found that the project successfully instigated change at three levels. “Firstly, girls who participated in project activities developed core skills in leadership, self-confidence and economic independence. Secondly, there was a shift in engagement; with traditional leaders breaking the taboo of silence surrounding FGM, child marriage and girls’ rights. This has brought with it the shifting of social norms. Thirdly, organisations were able to build their own visibility, develop and provide leadership, and collaborate effectively.”

The report goes on to discuss lessons learned for each level of programming - individual and beneficiary level, community-level programming, and organisational-level programming. For example, at beneficiary level, the report emphasises the importance of a focus on the context of girls’ and young women’s lives and the amplification of their voices. Also, investment in safe and separate spaces for girls to create multiplier effects is crucial. These spaces, such as girls’ clubs, young women’s networks, and resource centres, provided a platform for girls to learn, share experiences, and acquire skills in a safe space. In terms of community-level programming, the report, for example, highlights the importance of adopting participatory engagement strategies to reach community stakeholders and leaders, as well as the importance of raising community and parental awareness of social norms to ensure widespread, sustained behavioural change. In addition, the project found that the media play a critical role in raising the profile of the violations of girls’ rights as an important social issue, increasing public awareness and accountability. At organisational level, the report highlights the importance of cooperation between multiple partner organisations in order to draw on different expertise and levels of influence to address complex social and policy issues, as well as the need for capacity building in local implementing organisations.

Based on the findings of the project evaluation, the report ends with recommendations for policy and programme actions. The following are just a selection, with a focus on communication for development:

Community-level actions:

• Tackle social norms and practices: Traditional leaders and custodians of customary and religious laws should be actively involved in tackling FGM and related practices. Actions should include: making leaders aware of the law; building alliances; and identifying champions for girls' and women’s rights.
• Mobilise communities on safeguarding rights of girls and young women: In many communities, girls and young women do not play an active role in important decisions about their lives. It is imperative for agencies to invest time and resources in building trust among women’s communities.
• Engage respected community members as catalysts of change: Traditional and faith-based leaders have been shown to be good ‘change agents’, there is a need for encouragement for them to take responsibility for protecting girls in their community. They need training and support in their advocacy.

Programme-level actions:

• Design holistic initiatives that address multiple needs and entrenched social norms: Invest in programmes that are designed to enhance gender equality and girl friendly actions. This should include investing in both the practical needs of girls and young women to access wider development goals, including education and health, and supporting actions to enhance girls’ engagement.
• Create spaces for girls to network and to acquire confidence and leadership skills: Clubs and networks are invaluable in helping to empower girls and young women to act as catalysts for change and to defend their rights.
• Support and empower parents, boys, and men: They must be supported to challenge discriminatory social norms and resist the pressure to cut their daughters/girls.

Donor community/development partner actions:

• Ensure more long-term funding for programmes that tackle social norms: Ensure that adequate provision is built into developing structures and initiatives that offer girls and young women safety, protection, and services.
• Promote knowledge sharing and learning among development partners: This helps share learning and programme lessons.