Men for Equality, in partnership with Women in Liberation and Leadership (WILL) and with support from UNICEF, has launched a landmark initiative designed to reshape gender attitudes and dismantle harmful socio-cultural norms across The Gambia.
The project, titled “Strengthening Gender Transformative Approaches (GTA) to Ending FGM and Eradicating Harmful Socio-Cultural Norms in The Gambia,” marks a powerful step forward in national efforts to address the structural root causes of gender inequality. It takes a comprehensive, evidence-based approach that promotes reflection, dialogue, and systems-level transformation.
Guided by the Gender Equality Continuum and aligned with UNICEF’s Gender Action Plan 2022–2025, the initiative integrates gender-transformative strategies into programming, institutional practices, partnerships, and capacity-building efforts, ensuring long-term, sustainable change.
A Bold, Gender-Transformative Vision
Rather than focusing solely on awareness-raising, this project seeks to challenge the deep-seated norms that shape power relations, masculinity, femininity, and household decision-making. By confronting these foundations directly, the initiative aims to transform the social environment that sustains harmful practices such as FGM and entrenched gender discrimination.
The project’s activities reflect this bold approach, including:
- Development and pre-testing of GTA and Social & Behaviour Change (SBC) materials, such as:
- GTA intervention manual
- FGM factbook
- Human-Centred Design (HCD) intervention manual
- Hosting of GTA materials and tools on accessible platforms for community-wide knowledge dissemination
- Training of master trainers on GTA and HCD to build a national pool of experts capable of cascading learning
- Regular coordination meetings with FGM stakeholders and partners to strengthen knowledge management and collaboration
- Step-down training for government officials and civil society partners to ensure wide-scale adoption of gender-transformative practices
- Strengthened male engagement strategies to position men and boys as allies in ending harmful norms and practices
Through these interventions, the project ensures that gender transformation is not an event, but a continuous, community-rooted process.
Centering Inclusion, Safety, and Rights
UNICEF’s support plays a critical role in guaranteeing that vulnerable groups, particularly women, girls, and marginalized communities, gain access to safe, inclusive spaces where their voices, rights, and wellbeing are prioritized. These spaces create opportunities for meaningful participation, reflection, and empowerment.
The initiative recognizes that real transformation happens when communities are not only informed but also empowered to question, reimagine, and redesign their social and cultural environments.
A United Commitment to a More Equitable Gambia
This partnership between Men for Equality, WILL, and UNICEF sends a powerful message: that ending harmful socio-cultural norms and practices requires unity, collaboration, and a shared vision.
Together, these organizations are building a future where:
- Every child grows up free from violence and discrimination
- Harmful practices like FGM are abandoned
- Men and women participate equally in decision-making
- Communities embrace justice, dignity, and equality
The launch of this GTA project marks the beginning of a new chapter, one where gender equality is not only an aspiration but a national pathway toward sustainable development and social transformation.
