GENDER ROLES, EQUALITY AND TRANSFORMATIONS PROJECT INSTITUTE FOR REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY PATHFINDER INTERNATIONAL SAVE THE CHILDREN Not business as usual: The catalyzing role of gender norm transformation

THE GREAT PROJECT: OVERVIEW PARTNERS:  Institute for Reproductive Health, Georgetown University  Pathfinder International  Save the Children GOAL : Improve gender equality and reproductive health outcomes in Northern Uganda STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE : Boys and girls aged form equitable gender norms and adopt attitudes and behaviors which positively influence health outcomes and reduce gender- based violence

WHY GREAT MATTERS Gender roles and norms influence health and well- being. Young people’s health and well-being is influenced by their family, community, institutions and environment. Few gender transformative interventions have been scaled up.

GREAT INTERVENTION PACKAGE

THE PRINCIPLES Shift social norms/attitudes to foster more equitable behaviors Targeted to address different life stages Diffuse new ideas and info through community levels Engage girls and boys, together and apart Reach majority of people with modest time and money

Determine radio as appropriate communication channel Use of structured tool for integrating findings into radio drama Implementation of participatory, iterative review process MOVING FROM RESEARCH TO ACTION: RADIO DRAMA

PATHWAYS TO CHANGE TOOL  The game gives players a character profile (similar to target audiences) for which they must find:  P= personal  S= social  E= environmental  Barriers and  Facilitators  for specific behaviors,  from the research  summaries.

THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS Character trajectories were mapped to reflect a gradual process of change, with setbacks, consistent with the Stages of Change model

Sample Storyline OKIDI’S TRAJECTORY Okidi grows up seeing his siblings being treated differently by his parents and thinks it is normal. While the girls spend time doing household chores, Okidi is out playing with friends or attending school. This causes Okidi’s sisters to perform poorly in school. One day while at a friend’s home, Okidi realizes that they treat girls differently from the way his father treats his sisters. Okidi also realizes there are women in leadership positions in Oteka village. Okidi begins to reflect on the different situations…

REACHING THE TIPPING POINT HOW MUCH IS ENOUGH?

INTENDED COVERAGE 3 community groups/ school clubs per village 98 VHTs (1/3 of VHTs) per district 9 CAG members per parish Aired on 5 stations twice a week for 52 weeks TOOLKIT VHT CAC RADIO

OVERALL EXPOSURE TO GREAT: INTERVENTION & CONTROL AREAS RADIOVHT COMMUNITY ACTION CYCLE TOOLKIT % 12%8% 40% %9%5%3% Newly Married/ Newly Parenting 58%22%7%5% Adults 62% 25%10% 2%

RESULTS WHAT DIFFERENCE DID GREAT MAKE?

USING EVIDENCE TO INFORM GREAT BASELINE- ENDLINE SURVEY 4,500 adolescents and adults COHORT STUDY In-depth interviews with 30 male and 30 female adolescents QUALITATIVE ASSESSMENT 152 adolescents and VHTs involved in GREAT MONITORING Data collected from CAGs, VHTs, group/ club leaders, and radio stations CONSORTIUM DISCUSSIONS LOCAL COMMUNITIES & LEADERS CONSULTATIONS

GENDER EQUALITY “My attitude has change, and my life as well. I am married now and my wife and I share household responsibilities. This is the biggest eye opener in my life. We also teach this to our children.” -Community member NEWLY MARRIED/ NEWLY PARENTING RECEIVED HELP WITH HOUSEHOLD CHORES vs 65 % Endline 53 % Baseline

SEXUAL & REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH Improved attitudes and behaviors related to contraceptive use, discussions with partner about contraceptive use and timing of next child USING FAMILY PLANNING (NEWLY MARRIED/NEWLY PARENTING) 43 % Exposed 33 % Not Exposed vs

GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE NEWLY MARRIED/ NEWLY PARENTING REACTING VIOLENTLY TO PARTNER OLDER ADOLESCENTS REPORTING TOUCHING/ BEING TOUCHED WITHOUT PERMISSION vs 5%5% Exposed 21 % Not Exposed 12 % Not Exposed 4%4% Exposed vs

ENABLING ENVIRONMENT Improving youth outcomes requires adults to support more equitable attitudes and behaviors PROVIDE ADVICE TO ADOLESCENTS (ADULTS) 61 % Exposed 50 % Not Exposed vs

“Being close to children is very important and that is why I encourage parents to get close to their children and bring back the culture of an evening fire. We need to shape our children, not by beating them, but by talking to them.” 54 YEAR OLD MAN

KEY TAKEAWAYS

WHAT WORKED? Radio drama achieved broad reach and behavior change Greater depth and coverage needed to reach a “tipping point” Boys and men, adults and newly married adolescents changed most

INTERRELATED ENABLING FACTORS H

COMPLEXITIES OF PROGRESS Individuals Negotiating the Ecological Framework Regressive Gender Views Progressive Gender Views

More time, resources, or better diffusion strategies needed to reach community-wide change. Gender norms drive gender equality, SRH, and GBV outcomes, yet significant change in underlying patriarchal social system unrealistic from short-term intervention Unclear which intervention component is most cost-effective, or the benefits of addressing all stages in tandem. SHIFTING SOCIAL NORMS

WHAT NEXT?

SCALING-UP GREAT IN NORTHERN UGANDA

THANK YOU