Promising Practices
Strengthening Relationships & Solidarity Groups
This collection of approaches engage groups of different compositions (e.g. across gender, class, age and other identities) to foster strong support networks as as platform for learning, solidarity and action:
Women's village savings and loans groups
CARE: Village Savings and Loans Associations (Multi-country)
CARE facilitated Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs) are groups of 15-25 women, who use their weekly savings to build a collective fund, from which group members borrow (i.e. to invest in income-generating activities, expand farming, pay school fees, etc.) and then repay into the fund with interest. In these spaces, women often develop financial skills and build their understanding of how financial markets work, in some cases they connect to formal financial services providers.
The capacity and cohesion that VSLAs have achieved has also made them a platform to connect to other services such as reproductive health or agricultural extension, building political education around gender and power, and for fostering women’s leadership and collective action. VSLAs have also been used as a link between longer term and humanitarian programming through gender transformative approaches to increase resilience to future crises.
Since 1991, when the first VSLAs were created by CARE in Niger, they have been adapted in various ways. In CARE Niger itself, the approach to VSLA has increasingly focused on using VSLA groups as a platform for building women's leadership and solidarity networks.
In this section you will find:
- What the evidence indicates from CARE: Village Savings and Loans Associations (Multi-country)
- CARE: Village Savings and Loans Associations (Burundi)
- CARE: Pathways Program (Multi-country)
- CARE: Nutrition at the Center (Benin)
- CARE: A Win-Win for Gender, Agriculture and Nutrition (Burundi)
Click read more to expand to read these.
What does the evidence indicate?
As groups, VSLAs have been able to negotiate access to information (i.e. literacy classes), services (i.e. health care) and financial opportunities (i.e. larger loans from formal banks).[1]
In Niger, where CARE’s VSLA work started, every dollar invested in creating VSLA groups is associated with a return of $6.50 per year.[2] The resilience of women built up through VSLA played a significant role in mitigating the impact of the 2011-2012 Sahel drought through a variety of factors. These include strengthened knowledge and solidarity, the accumulation of assets, and the role of the early warning system function that CARE established in the VSLA groups – used to gather information and strengthen preparedness. In addition, the growing confidence and leadership of women from VSLA groups led them to take on new roles in their communities and even in local and regional politics. In fact, half of women elected to public office in Niger have gone through CARE women’s empowerment program (VSLA, leadership training or other program).[3] During the 2011-12 crisis, the leadership skills women developed in the VSLA groups were acknowledged, when women were given the role of leading food aid distribution by community elders. VSLAs have offered a platform to build multiple capacities. For example, combining savings and credit activities with community-based adaptation has been effective at enhancing resilience.[4]
An RCT study of CARE's VSLAs in Ghana, Malawi, and Uganda showed statistically significant increases in women's access to savings and leans, in women's business income and ownership, in food provision, and in women's influence over the household and business decisions. Half of the women elected to local municipal office in Niger have been VSLA members. [5]
References:
1. Andreatta, B., & Taylor, L (May 2016). A Roadmap for Change: Impactful Women’s Empowerment and Gender Equality Initiatives. CARE, p. 9; 2. CARE (August 2016). Nourish and Flourish: Evidence for Impact to End Malnutrition, p. 4; 3. CARE (n.d.) Beyond Productivity: Delivering Impacts on Food and Nutrition Security in a Changing Climate. (Lessons from CARE’s Programming 2013-2016.), p. 9; 4. CARE (2015). The resilience champions: when women contribute to the resilience of communities in the Sahel through savings and community-based adaptation; 5.Innovations for Poverty Action (2012). Impact Assessment of Savings Groups: Findings from Three Randomized Evaluations of CARE Village Savings and Loan Association programs in Ghana, Malawi and Uganda.
CARE: Village Savings and Loans Associations (Burundi)
CARE Burundi has adapted VSLAs for the specific context of adolescent girls first through the ISHAKA project and then through POWER Africa. These girls are organized into groups, provided with financial training, and oriented to the model of combining savings and giving out small loans. In the process, parents and male partners are also engaged so that the girls’ enhanced agency and skills can be valued rather than seen as a threat.[1]
RESOURCE: See the ISHAKA Toolkit for VSLAs with adolescent girls
RESOURCE: See the POWER Africa project website
RESOURCE: Read a Description of the VSLA Process
What does the evidence indicate?
In Burundi, the POWER Africa project, which adapts VSLAs for adolescent girls, is generating impressive outcomes. In terms of food security, 63% of participating girls say they never deal with hunger (compared to 42% of girls who didn’t participate). Diversification of income and profitable businesses allow them to withstand shocks such as a poor harvest or a political crisis. Participating girls were also less likely to get married under the age of 18 (on average, 20% of girls in Burundi marry before age 18, compared to 1% of girls participating in VSLAs). Of the revenue from participating girls’ small businesses, 40% is reinvested, demonstrating a good foundation for sustainability.[2]
References:
1. CARE (2015). POWER Africa – Burundi Rolling Baseline Report; 2. CARE, POWER Africa – Burundi Rolling Baseline Report, 2015.
CARE: Pathways Program (Multi-country)
The CARE Pathways program builds on VSLAs and other existing collectives (producer groups, marketing groups and self-help groups) to support Farmer Field and Business Schools (FFBS) with women farmers. The project focuses on improving the productivity and profitability of poor smallholder women farmers by helping empower women to fully engage in agricultural systems. Pathways implements FFBS to provide training that follows the seasonal cycle, so that farmers can apply what they are learning (about sustainable agriculture or market engagement) in real time and so that it does not require extra time from already time constrained women farmers. FFBS includes specific training modules on gender to create an understanding of workload burden, access to and ownership of resources, gender-based violence, household decision making and power analysis. Some sessions engage men and boys to support women’s empowerment and changes in gender relations; similar sessions also involve whole communities.[1]
RESOURCE: See the CARE Pathways project website
What does the evidence indicate?
Across countries, in communities in which Pathways works, women and men alike observed improvements in food security and children’s health, which they attributed to improved productivity. People also reported a greater ability to invest in education, clothes, food, domestic needs and health care costs. The Pathways mid-term review found that male respondents had greater respect for women and their leadership. Intra-household communication improved. In Ghana, women noted that the opportunity for men and women to communicate at VSLA group meetings directly contributed to more peaceful household relationships. There have also been increases in men sharing household tasks like fetching water and firewood. In Tanzania, community leaders acknowledged calling women for community meetings and speaking out actively against gender-based violence or enforcing rules and fines for such violence. Women reported greater confidence to speak up and a greater sense of solidarity. Some limits emerged, however; for example, in Mali, even in one of the most male-engaged communities, community leaders noted that they would not accept any dialogue on female genital mutilation. A cross-country social cost-benefit analysis found that women’s empowerment is important in driving food and nutrition security and economic resilience.[2]
An analysis of data across several women in value chain projects at CARE across multiple countries, including Pathways, looked at how working with community groups related to empowerment and other development outcomes. It found that women in CARE programs saw a 9.8% increase in income, compared to a 5.6% increase in income in communities without a CARE project. Women in predominantly female groups saw a 28% higher income than women in groups with few women. Women in CARE collectives (of any composition) are nearly twice as likely to have control of their income as women not in CARE programs. In gender-balanced groups, women had access to 100% of the resources that men could access, and women got an additional four hours of help with household work. Women in female-dominated groups got an additional 2 hours of support from others. The overarching lesson was the importance both of men’s engagement and women’s leadership. In general, the groups that were most successful at meeting both women’s empowerment and development goals were mixed gender groups with women leaders. Women-only groups were less successful than those that had a balanced gender mix, especially for development outcomes like improving income.[3]
References:
1. CARE (2013). Innovation brief: The farmer field and business school: a pathways programming approach; 2.Weatherhead, M., Mariam, S., Arnold, S., & Freeman, A. (2016, November). Social Cost Benefit Analysis of CARE International’s Pathways Program; 3. CARE (2016). CARE collectives and gender.
CARE: Nutrition at the Center (Benin)
In Benin, the CARE Nutrition at the Center project engages husbands through men’s VSLAs (see also: engaging men as equal partners), grandmothers and traditional leaders to influence feeding and sanitation practices, especially for infants and young children, and hold dialogues about gender norms. This responds to the reality that husbands make purchasing decisions and grandmothers influence the types of food that pregnant women and children eat. Men and women also get together on a biweekly basis to discuss nutrition, water, sanitation, hygiene and agriculture topics in order to encourage joint decision making at the household level.[1]
What does the evidence indicate?
In Benin, the involvement of women, men and traditional leaders in VSLAs has helped to positively influence social norms that shape nutrition behaviors, especially those detrimental to the health of pregnant women and young children.[2]
References:
1. CARE International (May 2016). Nutrition at the Center: Using Village Savings & Loans Associations to Improve Nutrition in Benin; Orgle, J., & Sekpe, H. (2015, December). Nutrition at the Center: Using Village Savings & Loans Associations to Improve Nutrition in Benin. CARE; Orgle, J. (2016, May 26). Utilizing Savings Groups to Improve Maternal and Child Nutrition in Benin. CARE; 2. CARE International (May 2016). Presentation: Utilizing Savings Groups to Improve Maternal and Child Nutrition in Benin; Orgle, J., & Sekpe, H. (2015, December). Nutrition at the Center: Using Village Savings & Loans Associations to Improve Nutrition in Benin. CARE; Orgle, J. (2016, May 26). Utilizing Savings Groups to Improve Maternal and Child Nutrition in Benin. CARE.
CARE: A Win-Win for Gender, Agriculture and Nutrition (Burundi)
Unlike many programs in the agricultural sector that adopt lighter-touch “gender-sensitive” approaches which can easily be disseminated through extension services, the Win-Win project tested a gender-transformative approach. An approach that addresses the root causes of gender inequality including harmful social norms and institutional and policy biases.
This gender transformative approach was inspired by the EKATA model that was first implemented in Bangladesh then later adapted by CARE Burundi since 2016, CARE Burundi has implemented the EKATA approach – Empowerment through Knowledge And Transformative Action – integrated into an agriculture program to test if focusing on achieving gender equality worked better than simply sharing messages about women’s rights or providing only agricultural training. The EKATA approach works with women to build their skills in negotiation, leadership, conflict management, and working together for change. At the same time, it brings in men and leaders to talk with women and find ways to change the habits and norms that are leading to inequality.
The Win-Win project compared the EKATA model to the Gender-Light approach that used a lighter-touch, incorporating only limited focus group discussions with men and women around key gender issues, namely control over income, sharing decision-making, workload-sharing, GBV and control over assets. The Outcomes from both the gender transformative (EKATA) and gender-light approaches were then compared to outcomes from a Control group, a typical agriculture intervention without any gender-specific elements.
Comparing the two gender models ‘EKATA’ and Gender light, the ‘EKATA’ model shows that the gender transformative approach performed much better in improving food security, creating wealth, gender equality and the empowerment of women.
The project focused on engaging people instead of informing them. In addition to sharing messages about why equality was important, the team worked with women, men, and community leaders to examine issues of gender equality and social norms. It supported women and men to come up with action plans about how they wanted to move together towards gender equality and higher food production.
The EKATA success had much to do with a combination of intensive, integrated training and accessible follow-up from the Win-Win staff; transformative reflection exercises and community theater tools; the solidarity from groups and an emphasis on community action plans with the local administration; and the early and simultaneous engagement of men as well as women in training and dialogue. The full package of gender-transformative, (EKATA) package included:
- Identify and train EKATA trainers/facilitators.
- Awareness-raising through power and gender socialization analyses.
- Critical reflection and communication skills (leadership, conflict management, negotiation skills).
- Active engagement of community and religious leaders, local government and traditional councils.
- Active engagement with male relatives of EKATA VSLA members) using male change agents (Abatangamuco) and reflection groups.
- Resolution of group action plans through collective action toward community vision and solidarity between women’s (and men’s) groups.
In Burundi, about 90% of the population are involved in agricultural activities, the majority of which are women. However, Burundian social norms mean that women suffer enormous social injustices and Sexual and Gender-Based Violence that prevent them from reaching their full potential. A woman who lives in violence lives in frustration and does not have enough energy and motivation to innovate and move forward. That is why a woman who participates in dialogue, who feels listened to and valued, who lives a life free of violence thrives enormously and reaches her full potential. She can produce and participate more, and move forward as the evidence has suggested.
What does the evidence indicate?
- Women who got more opportunities and support to address gender equality increased their rice production 2.7 times, compared to just 2 times the production for people who only got agriculture training. Women in EKATA groups had 167% more production with the largest increase of rice sold [2,3]
- Women were also 26% more likely to have enough food to eat. [2]
- Based on the Pro- WEAI (Women’s Empowerment in Agriculture Index)women from EKATA groups received the highest score with an increase of 84% from the baseline and 94% achieved gender parity based on the Gender Parity Index (GPI) [3] ;and were 3 times more likely to move to a higher income bracket.[2]
- Women in EKATA groups were 34% more likely to control their own incomes and worked fewer hours on unpaid care every day. [2]
References
1. CARE, Endline Assessment, The Effectiveness of a Gender-Transformative Program on Changing Gender Norms, Livelihoods, and Women’s Empowerment; 2. Care Burundi content template, Win-Win for Gender and Nutrition; 3. CARE, Impact Evaluation Report, A Win-Win for Gender, Agriculture and Nutrition Testing a Gender-Transformative Approach from Asia in Africa
, Solidarity and organizing among marginalized peoples
Multiple approaches started with a distinctly political lens, and intentionally worked with poor and marginalized groups to build unity, resilience and power to assert their rights. This links closely with approaches on leadership and collective action
In this section you will find:
- CARE: Chuli project (Terai Region, Nepal)
- CARE: Shouhardo and EKATA (Bangladesh)
- CARE: OIKKO, Women workers rights, EKATA (Bangladesh)
- Saptagram: Economic self-reliance group (Bangladesh)
- VAMP (Sex worker led association): Organizing in the Informal Economy (India)
Click read more to expand to read these.
CARE: Chuli project (Terai Region, Nepal)
Among CARE's work, the CHULI project in the Terai region of Nepal similarly brings together groups of the poorest, lower caste women and helps to critically analyze the problems they face and identify priorities for action as a group.[1] This approach is closely linked to the Empowerment, Knowledge and Transformative Action (EKATA) groups formed by CARE in Bangladesh (Shouhardo II). EKATA groups aim to sustainably reduce chronic and transitory food insecurity, are composed of 20 women and 10 teenage girls from the poorest classes of their communities. EKATA groups meet regularly to discuss their circumstances and generate solutions to problems such as violence against women, child marriage, dowry, lack of education, and lack of savings and credit. Through local facilitators, these groups engage critical reflection and plan collective action. CARE provides training in leadership and decision-making, helps to link groups at regional and national levels, and engages men to think more openly about gender roles.[2]
What does the evidence indicate?
From CARE's CHULI project, strike actions for equal and fair wages among agricultural day laborers have been organized, and district women’s rights forums have been established to organize campaigns. The campaign for higher wages secured a substantial rise in wages for unskilled agricultural labor in nearly all VDCs: 26 out of 30 VDCs secured 20-50% wage rises.[3]
CARE: Shouhardo Project and EKATA (Bangladesh)
CARE Shouhardo’s EKATA group approach has, over the course of six years, secured significant results. The annual reduction in child stunting (a measure of malnutrition) in implementation communities was 4.5% (compared to the national average of 0.1% for the same period). Households eating three meals a day climbed from 32% to 72%.[4] Dietary diversity nearly doubled in households in the Shouhardo program, and families saw the number of months out of the year they spent without enough food drop from 6.1 to 1 – an 83% improvement. The number of children who got a minimally diverse diet more than quadrupled.[5] In addition, women were approximately three times more involved in income generating activities (than they were at the beginning of Shouhardo II) and, as a result, families’ incomes grew by 85% (compared to the 60% national average during the same period).[6]
Based on the SHOUHARDO longitudinal study from July 2017-December 2018 some changes included: mobility of women/adolescent girls.The percentage of women and girls in the last round of data, collected in December 2018, who could go to the local market alone increased to 90.5% compared to 46.3% in the baseline. Moreover, the percentage of women and girls in the last round of data who could visit their friends/parents in the neighborhood moved up to 97% compared to 89.1% in the baseline. Increased women’s role in decision making: Percentage of women who made decisions on their cash income increased from 28.3 % (in baseline) to 94.1 % in the last round of data collection taken in December 2018. Improved Resilience Capacities The overall resilience capacity improved in the last round of data collection compared to the baseline. More specifically, the absorptive capacity increased from 48.3% in baseline to 65.6% in the last round. Apparently, the adaptive capacity increased from 57.8% to 87.1%, and transformative capacity increased from 61.5% to 71.6% in between the baseline and the last round of data collected. [7]
References:
1. Drinkwater, M. and Wu, D. (2011). Emergent struggles: Local activism and the 'Equal and Fair Wage' campaigns in the Janakpur area, Nepal. IKM Emergent.; 2. CARE. (Retrieved: March 20, 2017). Shouhardo II Program Website; 3. CARE Danmark and CARE Nepal. (2010, December). Final Report Midterm Review (MTR) Churia Livelihood Improvement (CHULI) Program; 4. CARE. (2016, September). Beyond Productivity: Delivering Impacts on Food and Nutrition Security in a Changing Climate(Lessons from CARE’s Programming 2013-2016); 5. Levinson, F., Blankenship, J., Francis, J., Hachhethu, K., Karim, R., Kurz, K., Akbar, N. and Bhuiyan, M. (2016). Qualitative evaluation of food for peace development food assistance projects in Bangladesh. Food and Nutrition Assistance III; 6. Ibid; 7. CARE, USAID. (2019). SHOUHARDO III Learning Report
CARE: OIKKO, Women workers rights, EKATA (Bangladesh)
OIKKO is a unique model that facilitates women workers rights embedded in EKATA methodology, that is used to build the collective voice and solidarity of women. CARE used EKATA groups as a platform to convene and promote workers’ rights with garment workers. Through OIKKO, trade unions provided gender training, conducted worker outreach and supported women garment factory workers to organize into unions. Key approaches of the project are:
- Raising the awareness of worker’s awareness of gender inequalities and knowledge about their rights. Through EKATA groups, garment factory workers participated in trainings on workplace rights, such as the broader rights of women that are relevant to the specific community, including gender-based violence and sexual harassment.
- Enhancing and building women’s skills in leadership, communication, and collective action. EKATA groups supported skill building to build workers’ confidence around organizing and collective action, which helped workers raise demands in their workplace and communities.
- Providing organized space for collaboration of workers. EKATA groups created space for workers to identify gaps in accessing their rights, as well as actions for organizing collectively. The groups meet and collaborate with other workers association through this space.
- Gender sensitization and outreach training for trade union and federation leaders. OIKKO engaged with union leaders to see the value of supporting women’s leadership and participation federations, and more intentionally outreach to and organize women workers to join and participate in trade unions.
- Resources for Trade Union and Federation representatives. CARE’s compensation Toolkit and Worker Outreach Model supported them to effectively represent workers.
RESOURCE: See the Participatory Power Analysis Manual (on Underlying Causes of Poverty) from CARE Nepal
What does the evidence indicate?
Based on the results of OIKKO, Women garment workers in Bangladesh are demanding access to their legal rights and entitlements. These increased skills and confidence to raise questions with factory management has enabled workers to claim maternity pay, support others to apply for sick leave, take action against abusive supervisors, demand and receive minimum wage, ensure payment of salaries and compensation for the close of factories, and requesting and actually receiving improved facilities. Community groups are working together to dispute issues that are affecting women. The EKATA approach of raising demands collectively has had success of getting resolution on a range of community level issues that concern women workers. OIKKO has helped women ensure that community leaders are addressing sexual harassment, gaining improved infrastructure, such as persuading factory administrators to install separate bathrooms for 400 women employees, and by engaging local authorities. Women from nine EKATA groups collaborated with neighbors and others in the community to ask a private healthcare provider to make services more accessible. There was a 50% reduction in the price of some services in clinics that are accessible to workers after dark. EKATA group members supported one another around personal issues they faced; women discussed how the group helped them to secure divorce with the help of others, preventing early child marriages, and opening savings accounts to gain self-determination over their own salaries and earnings. Trade union partners reported increased commitment to women’s representation, and greater action for the rights of women workers. OIKKO has supported trade unions to increase the number of women members, collective actions resulted in 400 women factory workers received full salaries and compensation, the formation of new unions in seven factories, and the leadership and decision-making positions of women within unions.
Reference:
Humaira, A., Smith, R., Sutcliffe, J. (2018). Outcome Harvesting Evaluation OIKKO (Unity): Bangladesh. CARE
Saptagram: Economic self-reliance group (Bangladesh)
Saptagram, a grassroots organization founded by a woman history professor in Bangladesh, brings together landless women and, through group discussion and reflection, helps to build consciousness, agency and solidarity. Saptagram helps to build economic self-reliance through group savings and lending.[1]
What does the evidence indicate?
As a result of Saptagram, real gains were made in employment rights - in terms of access to land and fishing, and opportunities for income generation. Women also reported greater support to access public services as well stronger autonomy, freedom and support in domestic relationships.[2]
References:
1. Cornwall, A. (2014). Women’s empowerment: what works and why? (WIDER Working Paper 2014/104) [PDF]. Helsinki: United Nations University-WIDER; 2. Kabeer, N., & Huq, L. (2010). The Power of Relationships: Love and Solidarity in a Landless Women's Organisation in Rural Bangladesh. IDS Bulletin, 41(2), 79-87. doi:10.1111/j.1759-5436.2010.00126.
VAMP (Sex worker led association): Organizing in the Informal Economy (India)
VAMP (Veshya Anyay Mukti Parishad), which is a sex worker led association, brings sex workers in India together to: reflect on and analyze challenges in their lives (i.e. abuse and extortion by the police, prejudice toward their children, lack of access to education for their children, refusal of clients to use condoms); nurture solidarity and mutual support; and plan collective action and advocacy efforts. These collectives are also a platform for group savings and loans, provision of health education, etc. Similarly, the Chinese NGO PinkSpace convenes sex workers, lesbians, women with HIV, and wives of gay men. The intent is to build solidarity among non-normative women and break taboos about sexual expression, helping to empower this stigmatized group.[1]
What does the evidence indicate?
Women in sex worker collectives (VAMP) are able, as a result of strong group solidarity, to insist on clients’ condom use and call for help with difficult clients or local thugs. They can also organize collectively to hold the state to account for police attacks on sex workers. As a result of PinkSpace, nearly 75% of women reported participating more equally in family decision-making, and over 50% resumed their interrupted education.
Reference:
Cornwall, A. (2014). Women’s empowerment: what works and why? (WIDER Working Paper 2014/104) [PDF]. Helsinki: United Nations University-WIDER.
Engaging men as equal partners and family
In this section you will find:
- CARE: EMERGE (Sri Lanka)
- CARE, PROMUNDO & RWAMREC: Journeys of Transformation (Rwanda)
- CARE, Rwanda Women’s Network & Rwanda Men’s Resource Centre: Indashyikirwa (Rwanda)
- CARE & UNFPA: Husband schools (Niger)
- CARE: Family Business Management Training (Papua, New Guinea)
CARE: EMERGE (Sri Lanka)
CARE programs like EMERGE in Sri Lanka, used economic initiatives as an entry point to work more closely on gender with households. It provided training to married couples to enhance their communication with respect to matters such as money management, positive parenting, support for household work and decision making. Through this project, male change agents engaged with political and religious leaders to create space for a dialogue about GBV and develop alternative definitions of masculinity.[1]
What does the evidence indicate?
EMERGE worked at multiple levels-household, community, divisional, district, and at the national level where it engaged in advocacy efforts around issues of gender equality and GBV. A final evaluation was conducted in 2015 to capture lessons learned of EMERGE over the four years of implementation of the pilot program. Findings indicate gains made in the various levels of project implementation but examine the framing of the work and depth of its achievements in connection to the broader context of work carried out around women's rights in Sri Lanka and how actors working to prevent GBV 'engage men and boys' toward this end. Given "money management" was used as an entry point with couples toward shared decision making around incomes at the household level, gender equality became a by-product. Addressing topics around gender competed with participant's priorities around savings, upward mobility, and migration for employment in the case of youth. From this evaluation, findings indicate future work on GBV that aims to work with or engage men and boys is best designed to meet program objectives by:
- Engaging with critical framework of masculinities, as outlined in Broadening Gender: Why Masculinities Matter
- Providing ongoing trainings on masculinities in the plural, as a continuous process with partners at all levels of engagement
- Designing tools to measure behavioral change within private domains of household that would provide an evidence- based assessment of the of the outcomes of its change agent programs
- Responding to GBV from a women's rights, gender justice, and collective feminist politics lens in order to compliment engaging men to develop life-skills to shift gender roles and behavioral change in the individual family level.
Reference:
CARE International Sri Lanka (2015). EMERGE Final Evaluation; CARE International Sri Lanka (2016). Redefining Norms to Empowerment Women: experiences and lessons learned.
CARE, PROMUNDO & RWAMREC: Journeys of Transformation (Rwanda)
Journeys of Transformation an initiative involving CARE, Promundo and RW.AMREC engaged male partners of women in VSLA groups in Rwanda, and stimulated discussions on household relationship dynamics, health and GBV. Concurrently, women discussed business skills, income generating activities, health and wellbeing, and GBV.[1]
What does the evidence indicate?
GBV: As a result of Journeys of Transformation, both men and women reported coping better with stress, which they related to reduced abuse of alcohol by men and reduced violence against women. Some men also became more supportive of family planning and many men became more involved in child care activities than the control group.[2]
References:
1. Promundo and CARE International in Rwanda (2012). Journeys of Transformation: A Training Manual for Engaging Men as Allies in Women’s Economic Empowerment. Washington, DC, USA, and Kigali, Rwanda: Promundo and CARE; 2. Slegh, H., Barker, G., Kimonyo, A., Ndolimana, P. and Bannerman, M. (2013).'I can do women's work': reflections on engaging men as allies in women's economic empowerment in Rwanda. Gender & Development, 21:1, 15-30
CARE, Rwanda Women’s Network & Rwanda Men’s Resource Centre: Indashyikirwa (Rwanda)
Indashyikirwa is an intimate partner violence (IPV) prevention program implemented by CARE International Rwanda, Rwanda Women's Network (RWN) and Rwanda Men's Resource Centre (RWAMREC) in 14 sectors across three provinces. This intervention includes a 5-month, weekly curriculum for heterosexual couples aimed to supporting healthy, equitable, and non-violent relationships. The curriculum draws on adaptations from Journeys of Transformation and SASA! and is designed to identify causes and consequences of economic, emotional, physical and sexual IPV and build skills to manage the triggers of IPV. The program engages community opinion leaders to prevent and respond to IPV, establish women's safe spaces to educate women about their rights, and refer or accompany women who wish to report abuse or seek support services. This curriculum was designed to help couples positively transform power imbalances in their lives and relationships, equip couples to critically identify and manage triggers of IPV, and build skills for equitable, non-violent relationships. [1]
What does the evidence indicate?
The data gathered following Indashyikirwa trainings reveal an in-depth understanding of the range of consequences associated with the different forms of IPV from hindering household economic growth, causing poor mental and physical health, to damaging intimate relationships. Emphasizing how power inequalities underlie all forms of IPV appear to be useful for raising awareness of the consequences of various types of IPV. Several participants noted a significant reduction in men's use of physical IPV due to greater awareness of negative consequences. A few opinion leaders and male partners of couples reported learning about harmful relationship impacts of economic IPV, and the overlapping links with other forms of IPV through the curriculum. See the full Indashyikirwa evaluation here. [1]
- 55 % reduction in the odds of women reporting physical and/or sexual IPV. 47 % reduction in the odds of men reporting having perpetrated physical and or sexual IPV.
- Women who participated in the Couple's Curriculum reported 61 % reduction in the odds of experiencing IPV, compared to those who participated in VSLA alone. [2]
References:
1. Stern, E. A., & Niyibizi, L. L. "Shifting Perceptions of Consequences of IPV Among Beneficiaries of Indashyikirwa: An IPV Prevention Program in Rwanda."Journal of Interpersonal Violence; 2. What Works to Prevent Violence: A Global Programme to Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls (2019). Impact of Indashyikirwa: An Innovative Programme to Reduce Partner Violence in Rural Rwanda.
CARE & UNFPA: Husband schools (Niger)
Husband schools in Niger, which has been implemented by UNFPA as well as CARE, bring men over 25 together to discuss health issues, discuss how to support women’s participation in community life and develop action plans.[1]
What does the evidence indicate?
Husband schools were associated with the doubling of safe deliveries between 2008 and 2009.[2]
References:
1. UNFPA (n.d.) Niger: Husbands' schools seek to get men actively involved in reproductive health; Edstrom, J., Hassink, A., Shahrokh, T. and Stern, E. (2015). Engendering men: a collaborative review of evidence on men and boys in social change and gender equality. EMERGE Evidence report, Promundo-US, Sonke Gender Justice and the Institute of Development Studies.; 2. Edstrom, J., Hassink, A., Shahrokh, T. and Stern, E. (2015). Engendering men: a collaborative review of evidence on men and boys in social change and gender equality. EMERGE Evidence report, Promundo-US, Sonke Gender Justice and the Institute of Development Studies, 49.
CARE: Family Business Management Training (Papua, New Guinea)
CARE's Family Business Management Training (FBMT) in Papua New Guinea works with smallholder coffee producers’ families that typically run their business at the household level, sharing tasks inside the family. Women bear the burden of both productive and reproductive work, while men control the budget decisions. The FBMT engages both men and women to improve their financial and management skills and, at the same time, share the workload inside and outside the house in a more equitable manner that makes the whole family happier and more productive.[1]
What does the evidence indicate?
Family Business Management Training in Papua New Guinea helped to bring about incremental positive changes in household attitudes and behavior, such as joint decision making and more equitable workloads, which enable the whole family to achieve more from their coffee farming. This has also contributed to improve women’s participation in coffee extension services in Papua New Guinea, increasing from less than 5% to 33% (and as high as 55% in some areas).[2]
References:
1. CARE (n.d.) Family Business Management Training: trainers' handbook.
Justice and the Institute of Development Studies, 49; 2. Bryan, A. (n.d.). CARE International in PNG: Coffee Industry Support Project.
Support groups with men and boys to redefine masculinities
To support men to make changes in their own lives as well as shift gender norms in their homes and communities, a number of projects facilitated men's support groups for structured reflection on gender, power and masculinities. This work combined building positive support networks for men, supporting women's groups and leadership, alongside community social norms change campaigns.
In this section you will find:
- CARE: Safe Cities Free of Violence Against Women and Girls (Egypt)
- CARE: Abatangamuco (Burundi)
- CARE: Male Engagement Initiative (Uganda)
- CARE & other partner organizations: The Young Men Initiative (Balkans)
- Grassroots Soccer: Improving the Health of Boys and Young Men Through Soccer (African Region, Multi-country)
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Project activities include roundtable discussions with religious and family leaders, awareness raising campaigns, interactive theatre performance workshops, and art therapy sessions. The interactive theatre performance workshops are an opportunity for participants to express themselves through acting and engage in an open dialogue with audience members on sexual harassment and GBV. Performances and the following discussion provide platforms for public and critical discussions around violence through interactive expression.
The art therapy sessions provide a space for the participants to shift perspectives, address feelings & manage behaviors toward violence, and improve self-esteem. The workshops take place in three phases: self-expression, reflection & evaluation of concepts, and inner healing. The first phase focuses on helping participants open up and discuss issues that they may not be accustomed talking about. The second phase guides the participants through these thoughts, helping them to reflect on perspectives and concepts that are directly or indirectly related to violence. The third phase invites a process of healing associated with the repercussions of being observers, survivors, or perpetuators of violence. These sessions give the participants an opportunity to reflect and express their ideas and perspectives in a safe environment, and to adopt a proactive stance to addressing GBV in public spaces.
What does the evidence indicate?
The Safe Cities intervention has reported to have engaged individuals to reflect on their personal life and challenge social norms around violence. Participants who completed project activities have reported that it was powerful to share their experiences around violence. Participants are engaged with mutually reinforcing messages from a variety of sources and have reported that they have shared their learnings with their families and communities.
References:
CARE; Azmy, S., Engaging Men and Boys: A Learning Journey; UN Women (2017) Safe Cities and Safe Public Spaces: Global results report; UN Women (Updated Nov 2020) Safe Cities and Safe Public Spaces; UN Women Creating Sate and Empowering Public Spaces with Women and Girls
CARE: Abatangamuco (Burundi)
Abatangamuco is a men’s group supported by CARE in rural Burundi to challenge traditional notions of masculinity. They do so by helping other men realize that domestic violence, heavy drinking, leaving the majority of income-generating and household-related work to their wives, and excluding their wives from decision making is not only morally wrong but also an impediment to the family’s economic and social progress. These men visit communities and share their testimonies at open meetings (sometimes organized by religious leaders or local authorities) and also intervene personally in instances when a man is mistreating his wife. Abatangamuco has helped to create an alternative masculine status at a local level that men can aspire to, and it has become a legally recognized organization, with registered members and an organizational structure.[1]
What does the evidence indicate?
A review of the Abatangamuco work, showed growing membership of men who make public commitments and take concrete steps as peacemakers in their homes and communities. Men themselves formalized a membership and organizational structure from which to continue to operate and grow.
Reference:
Wallacher, H. (2012). The Abatangamuco: Engaging men for women's empowerment in Burundi. Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO).
CARE: Male Engagement Initiative (Uganda)
CARE's Northern Uganda Male Engagement Initiative supports groups of men, with the title of role model men, to come together for reflection and discussion as community change agents, gender equitable partners and support as survivors of violence. Through these groups, members commit to share their learning with ten other households in their community, as well as lead local campaigns for gender equality and peace through radio and theater. Members of these groups have also engaged with couple seminars, counseling on conflict management and resolution as well as peer education around topics related to gender and family life. These groups also work in support of women's VSLA groups within program areas.[1]
What does the evidence indicate?
Qualitative studies of CARE Uganda's Male Engage Initiative indicate
gains in the household, which include: family support for childhood education, improvements in SRHR and maternal and child health, greater household livelihood and food security, and closer family relationships. In community levels, people have valued positive support networks for men and a more enabling environment for women's leadership. However, issues of chronic and severe poverty, alcoholism and violence related to it remain a persistent challenge within programming areas.[2]
References:
1. Muhammed, A. (2015). Impact report on male engage initiative (MEI) of CARE's Northern Uganda Women's Empowerment Program. CARE and Global Community Development, Hebrew University of Jerusalem; 2. Wu, D., Baron, R., Martins, S. and Shannon, R. (2016). 'Man in the Mirror; Reflections on men and boys engaging gender work in development. CARE; Montoya, O. (2016). Final Research Report: The role of men in reproductive, child and maternal health in Northern Uganda. A participatory study with role model men. CARE and GWED G. Referenced in: CARE (2016). Engaging men in gender equality: Lessons from CARE Uganda.
CARE & other partner organizations: The Young Men Initiative (Balkans)
The Young Men Initiative (YMI) in the Balkans, which involved CARE and a number of partner organizations, works with youth-focused civil society organizations (especially on HIV prevention and SRH) to help them engage young men on issues of gender, masculinity and health, with an emphasis on violence prevention. “Be a Man” after-school clubs and social marketing campaigns are organized, and residential retreats are held for more intensive engagement; training is led by youth facilitators, and topics include gender-based violence and substance abuse. The intent is to change popular conceptions of what it means to be a man.[1]
What does the evidence indicate?
The evaluation of YMI in Kosovo indicated that boys in intervention schools (in which YMI worked) reported perpetrating significantly less violence than boys in comparison schools. Even a year after engaging with YMI, 14% of participating boys reported having used violence against a peer in the preceding three months, compared to 26% of comparison school boys. YMI’s efforts do not seem to have significantly changed homophobic attitudes or the tendency to blame female victims of violence, however.[2]
References:
1. CARE (n.d.) Young Men Initiative Website.
child and maternal health in Northern Uganda. A participatory study with role model men. CARE and GWED G. Referenced in: CARE (2016). Engaging men in gender equality: Lessons from CARE Uganda; 2. CARE International-Balkans (2016). Young men initiative case study: YMI in Kosovo, 2011-2015.
Grassroots Soccer: Improving the Health of Boys and Young Men Through Soccer (African Region, Multi-country)
Grassroots Soccer, engages adolescent boys onto sports teams, as an entry point for facilitating conversations on gender norms, violence, substance use, and health-related issues. This project has been implemented in West and Southern Africa. The project starts by recruiting and training male coaches to facilitate the sessions and act as positive role models that model more equitable and alternative masculinities for participants. Organizing young men/boys into soccer clubs, the project held 90-minute sessions once or twice a week to establish a safer environment for participants to share their learning experiences with each other. In South Africa, sites worked with coaches in local football associations to deliver programming.
What does the evidence indicate?
Through Grassroots Soccer, participants in Nigeria scored higher in gender-equitable attitudes (16.6% higher scores), HIV prevention knowledge (17.5% higher scores) as well as pregnancy and contraceptive knowledge ( 18.2% higher scores) over the course of intervention. Participants also reported gains in self-efficacy.[1] A 2016 mixed-methods evaluation found young men/boys reported more communication about HIV with friends and gender-equitable decision-making responsibility in relationships. Coaches also reported that their own negative SRH behaviours and gender attitudes shifted from the project.[2]
References:
1. Sources: Grassroots Soccer (2019). 2019 State of the Art in Engaging Men in Health and Development: technical marketplace. Interagency Gender Working Group; 2. Grassroots Soccer: 2017-2018 Research & Insights Report.
Youth solidarity, learning, self-determination and justice
CARE: Renacer (Honduras)
CARE’s Renacer program in Honduras supports programming led by youth to undertake participatory action research to analyze issues affecting them, and to address barriers to education. Non-formal education was provided, with the help of local volunteers (mostly youth themselves). Extra-curricular activities (i.e. sports, vocational training, handicrafts, civic action like repairing community infrastructure) are organized so young men and women, and boys and girls, can interact in an equal and respectful manner and develop peer networks. This provides a safe alternative to the violent and exploitative brotherhoods built through gangs. Gender roles can be challenged in a safe and supportive space.[1]
What does the evidence indicate?
Evaluations of Renacer indicate that the role of adolescent girls and boys in program communities has been profoundly transformed. The context has shifted from one in which child labor, teenage pregnancy and violence is the norm to adolescents becoming powerful voices and actors for change in their communities. Providing a meaningful and empowering education, facilitating a network of supportive peer relationships for young men and women, and developing leaderships skills have been key. Youth activists have created three community organizations in order to sustain extra-curricular activities, mentoring and counseling, home visits to persuade out-of-school children to re-enroll and advance grassroots advocacy for child rights. Some youth groups have received local government support for education activities.
Reference:
Moll, A., & Renault, L. (2014). Rebirth, empowerment, and youth leading social change: non-formal education in Honduras. Gender & Development, 22(1), 31-47. doi:10.1080/13552074.2014.889345
Connecting refugees for healing, support and action
Multiple approaches started with a distinctly political lens, and intentionally worked with poor and marginalized groups to build unity, resilience and power to assert their rights. This links closely with approaches on leadership and collective action.
In this section you will find:
- CARE, Bokra Ahla & Al Manara Center: Art therapy workshops (Egypt)
- ASAM: “Women’s Committee of the Future” (Syria)
- UNHCR, MOSAIC & Partners: “LGBTI Youth Group” (Lebanon)
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CARE, Bokra Ahla & Al Manara Center: Art therapy workshops (Egypt)
In Egypt, CARE and community-based organizations Bokra Ahla and Al Manara Center worked with refugee and asylum seeker populations to provide art therapy workshops. The workshop curriculum facilitates self-expression, reflection and healing sessions with participants in a safe and confidential space. Upon request, CARE also provides case management services to respond to cases of violence. The workshop uses mixed media (sculpture, writing, acting, drawing, coloring, film etc.) to enable self-expression, help survivors begin to process their experiences, and break taboos surrounding the topic. [1]
What does the evidence indicate?
Through participant evaluations of the art therapy workshops in Cairo, participants reported that the approach was empowering and that it was powerful to be able to share their experiences with violence (as survivors, witnesses, and perpetrators). They also reported better and more accountable/peaceful relationships in the home, and many shared what they had learnt with their families. [1]
Reference:
UNHCR (2017). Gender Equality Promising Practices: Syrian refugees in the Middle East and North Africa.
ASAM: “Women’s Committee of the Future” (Syria)
Association for Solidarity with Asylum Seekers and Migrants (ASAM) supported the “Women’s Committee of the Future” established by Syrian refugee women in Gaziantep. The group first began when ASAM invited women refugees to join informal tea hours after Turkish language classes through ASAM’s refugee support center. These gatherings, supported by a translator and psychologist, both women, who provided space for refugee women to build relationships with one another and access psychosocial support. As a group, participants engaged with drawing, sharing, photography and watching movies related to women’s rights. As the group built amongst one another, women also shared issues that they face at home and in their communities. In 2016, they established the “Women’s Committee of the Future” to work together on issues facing refugee women, such as child marriage and domestic violence. [1]
What does the evidence indicate?
While no evaluation has yet been done of ASAM, women members of the “Women’s Committee of the Future” reported greater confidence, knowledge of rights and a sense of power to take action towards supporting Syrian women in Gaziantep. There are some signs that their work, visibility, and art have helped to bridge relationships between Syrian and host community members in Gaziantep.
Reference:
UNHCR (2017). Gender Equality Promising Practices: Syrian refugees in the Middle East and North Africa.
UNHCR, MOSAIC & Partners: “LGBTI Youth Group” (Lebanon)
UNHR, MOSAIC and partners established the “LGBTI Youth Group” in Lebanon to hold space for peer-to-peer support and discussions, assistance and services specifically for LGBTQI Syrian refugees. The LGBTI Youth Group was established by youth from the community, ages 19-29, and worked closely with NGO partners comprised of committed to confronting and/or directly impacted by LGBTQI rights abuses. The group gathered monthly and established informal meetings for fostering connection and safety. Through meetings, the group discussed information on services available, challenges arising for the community and how to respond. In addition, the project supported the LGBTI Youth Group through psychosocial support, emergency cash assistance, medical and legal services, life skills/vocational training, art therapy, and job coaching/internship placements. UNHCR and NGO partners also worked with service providers to promote more inclusive case management and to address discrimination against LGBTQI refugees. To ensure project accountability, the initiative also included ongoing assessments and evaluations, a rapid response hotline for housing and other emergency support, as well as a feedback and complaint mechanisms. A review of the project also acknowledged the specific risks to LGBTQI refugee youth connected to the criminalization and stigma that they face. This requires specific approaches and measures to prioritize safety in outreach, access to services, as well as facilitating meeting spaces/activities. [1]
What does the evidence indicate?
Through focus-group discussions, the LGBTI Youth Group participants reported that case management and services provided through the intervention have become more accessible to LGBTQI+ youth. A number of youth also reported that they were able access work and livelihood opportunities. Through their participation in the intervention, youth were also able to tell their story through art and film.
Reference:
UNHCR (2017). Gender Equality Promising Practices: Syrian refugees in the Middle East and North Africa.