Authors: Abebe Kassa (MPH), Kidest Lulu (MD, MPH), Getaneh Assefa( MA/MPH)

Summary

In developing countries like Ethiopia, girls are disproportionately affected by multilayered socio-economic problems. High unmet need for family planning, early pregnancy, and childbearing are common problems in Ethiopia. Harmful traditional practices such as child, early and forced marriage and female genital mutilation are highly prevalent.

To address these challenges, Pathfinder International piloted Her Space Project with the purpose of improving personal, social, health, safety, education and financial outcomes of girls.

The Intervention

Funded by UKAID/DFID and in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, the pilot project was implemented from January to June 2017 in 40 kebeles of Amhara and Oromia regions.

The project reached 2,000 girls aged 11-14 years in two cohorts – 1000 in Amhara and 1000 in Oromia. Each cohort included 500 girls of age 11-12 years and 13-14 years.    

Eighty safe spaces – maximum of 25 girls per space – were established. Two mentors were assigned per space.  The girls were enrolled based on a set of vulnerability criteria.

The Mentors’ manuals and girls’ handbooks were uniquely designed for each cohort to guide the girls’ session and focused on communication and negotiation skills, reproductive health, safety, savings, and visiting places. Communities, parents, guardians, and gatekeepers were engaged.

Forty girls’ sessions over six months, two sessions of parental consultations, two sessions of stakeholders’ consultations, two mentors’ review meetings and two sessions of boys’ sensitization meetings were conducted.

Result

Girls became aware of factors, consequences and available services pertaining to gender-based violence, unintended pregnancies. They gained knowledge and skill on menstrual hygiene management and nutrition.     

Self-confidence and academic performance of the girls improved. The girls started negotiating and discussing openly with their families. The girls built a positive relationship and networking with each other and with others. Some girls opened a bank account and started saving.

Siblings started to help their sisters in the domestic chores. Parents became aware of harmful traditional practices including early and child marriage and their consequences.

Lessons Learned, Conclusions and Implications of the Intervention

• Younger cohorts 11-12 years old girls – were participating more actively in the project without fear and reservation as compared to the older cohorts 13-14-year-old girls – revealing the need to focus on early adolescence for program success.
• Early community sensitization creates a sense of belongingness and ownership and paves the road for program’s success.
• Parental consultation and involvement of community and kebele officials in the sensitization workshops have improved girls’ attendance in the safe space sessions.
• The involvement of school communities played a key role in the program success.
• Involving boy about the program makes them play a positive role in the life of girls.
• Designing high impact and the low-cost program will build resilience in the community and ensures program sustainability with minimum cost when there is a lack or abrupt stopping of funding.

Possible next steps:

Advocating for implementation