The CHANGE Project · (FSAN) in The Netherlands 4. Foundation for Women’s Health Research and Development (FORWARD) in UK 5. National Association for Ending Female Genital Mutilation

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The CHANGE Project Promoting behaviour change in practicing communities in

the EU

REPLACE2 Conference, Coventry University London

Friday 11th April 2014

Linda Ederberg, Terre des Femmes, Project Coordination

[email protected]

www.change-agent.eu

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.change-agent.eu



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CHANGE in a nutshell

Objective: Advocate for abandonment of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)

Duration: March 2013 - February 2015

Budget: >470.000 Euro, co-funded by the European Commission,

Daphne Programme

Coordinator: TERRE DES

FEMMES, Germany


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Partners

1. Terre des Femmes (TDF) in Germany

2. Euronet FGM

3. Federation of the Somali Associations (FSAN) in The Netherlands

4. Foundation for Women’s Health Research and Development (FORWARD) in UK

5. National Association for Ending Female Genital Mutilation (RISK) in Sweden

6. Plan International (Plan) in Germany

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Objectives of CHANGE

Overall objective

• Enabling practising communities across the EU

to advocate for the abandonment of FGM

Specific objectives

• Reducing the social pressure on families and

individuals in practising communities which

leads to the continuation of FGM.

• Promoting behavioural change in practising

communities.

• Reversing the stigmatisation of uncircumcised

girls.

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The REPLACE Framework: Ending FGM through a Behaviour Change Approach

Behaviour Change Model

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Project Activities

1. Empowerment of Change Agents

2. Sensitising Key Professionals

3. Development of Training Manual

4. Dissemination/Public Outreach

Project partner meeting in

Berlin, March 2014

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1. Empowerment of Change

Agents • Identification of minimum 48 Change Agents (12 per

country)

• Development of curriculum and training programme (by partner organisations)

• Country specific material packages

• Training Sessions of Change Agents, 6 days of training, October 13 - Feb 14

• Dialogue Change Agents - Key professionals (Feb 14)

• 10 Meetings for exchange of Change Agents, 1 per month in every country (March - Dec 14)

• 36 Behaviour change activities, 3-4 per month in every country (3 per Change Agent)

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Who are the Change Agents?

• Origin: The 51 Change Agents come from the following countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Congo, DR Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia,Iraq, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Mali, Sierra Leone, Senegal, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania,Togo, Uganda. Most of them come from Somalia (10) and Sudan (7), where the prevalence rate is very high.

• Age: The youngest ist just 19 years, the oldest 76. • Gender: 15 of the Change Agents are male and 36

female. • All of them play active roles in their communities and are

highly motivated to facilitate change. Diversity in terms of age, gender, origin and professional

experience to ensure that most community members are reached.

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Change Agents

during a training in

Hamburg, © Plan

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Training curriculum

Module 1 Introduction to the project CHANGE (objectives & expectations)

Module 2 Introduction to FGM & Introduction to legal issues

Module 3 Sexual Health and Rights Module 4 Choice and Consent Module 5 Communication and Terminology Module 6 Communication skills Module 7 Culture and Tradition Module 8 Religion Module 9 Role of the Change Agent Module 10 Flexible - decision of subject left to partner

organisation Module 11 Intervention strategies to protect girls at risk Module 12 Action planning of behaviour change

activities

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Findings: Training sessions • Trainings on Saturdays due to other commitments of

Change Agents, childcare was an issue

• Language barriers during the training, translation to native languages required

• Training curriculum (modules 1 - 12) require addendum with section on “self-care” to prepare Change Agents for behaviour change activities

But: Commitment and motivation of the Change Agents very high, positive energy

Change Agents during

a training in Hamburg,

© Plan

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Planning of behaviour change

activities - 3 behaviour change activities per Change Agent in 10

months period

- Regular exchange meetings between Change Agents and organisation, support by facilitator

- Planning of various kind of activities together with facilitator to target divers groups within community, e.g.

- Intimate kitchen talks between women, starting discussion with less sensitive topics leading to sexual health/FGM

- Imam speaking to community about FGM after Friday Prayer

- Community festivity, inviting musician/artist to speak about FGM

Project partners meet again in July 2014 for interim assessment of behaviour change activities.

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Interim Findings: Behaviour

Change Activities • Change Agents’ first experiences with behaviour

change activities reveal that barriers are high and that trust-building is most important even for community members; time-consuming process

• Starting with awareness-raising and trust-building is necessary precondition for behaviour change

• Mentoring on general concerns (such as integration) as door opener for talks about more sensitive issues

• Power dynamics in some communities (“hard-to-reach groups”) require flexible approach, husband often needs to be involved in activities to enable women to take part

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2. Sensitising Key

Professionals 1. Training for key professionals, e.g. health staff, social

workers, religious leaders. Exchange meeting with

Change Agents

2. Development of brochure - “Responding to FGM”

(ongoing)

3. Production and dissemination of brochure

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3. Development of a Training

Manual 1. Development of a Europe - wide training manual

(ongoing)

2. Editorial meeting of project partners, July 2014, BER

3. Layout of manual


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4. Dissemination 1. Communication: press releases, press conferences,

presence on NGOs website, social media

2. CHANGE website http:/www.change-agent.eu

3. CHANGE Final Conference, 28th of January 2015, BER

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Outlook • Will it be possible to measure behaviour change

impact already after the second year of CHANGE?

• Overcoming barriers for Change Agents to taking action requires sustainable long-term approach, e.g.

– Counselling service offered by Change Agents for community members on various issues (including FGM)

– Teaming up key professionals and Change Agents to establish lasting joint networks

• Continuation of the CHANGE project to advance behaviour change approach and enhance long-term impact

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Thank you!

Change Agents in London © Forward UK

Documents

The CHANGE Project · (FSAN) in The Netherlands 4. Foundation for Women’s Health Research and Development (FORWARD) in UK 5. National Association for Ending Female Genital Mutilation