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MSI Uganda Refer-a-Friend

Social norm(s) addressesd:
“Adolescents should not use contraception”

Organisation: MSI

MSI Uganda’s Refer-a-Friend intervention aimed to empower adolescents to become peer champions, breaking down harmful norms around adolescent sexuality, using using referral cards, bracelets, as well as provider-side youth-friendly improvements. Results showed an average 45% increase in the monthly number of adolescent clients (about 5.4 more per clinic), and an average increase in the monthly proportion of adolescent clients by 5.3%. Nearly 2,000 adolescents became new FP users as a result of the intervention during the six months of implementation.

Evidence brief
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MSI Zambia path game for community leaders to increase adolescent SRH access

Social norm(s) addressesd:
“Unmarried adolescents should not use contraception”

Organisation: MSI Zambia

This is a good example of leveraging reference groups for social norms change. Marie Stopes Zambia works with the health facility team to share local statistics on adolescent SRH like adolescent ANC attendance or deliveries (proxy measures to highlight the burden of teenage pregnancy) with community leaders during engagement meetings. In addition, community leaders are engaged in a ”path game” activity here to understand the adolescent SRH journey and the challenges they face These are exercises that build empathy and understanding for adolescents among leaders, allowing them to walk in the shoes of young women and understand how the rights of adolescents align with the priorities of their community.

Further Information (internal MSI only)
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GARIMA: Sparking dialogue on menstrual health

Social norm(s) addressesd:
“You should not talk about menstruation”

Organisation: UNICEF, Others

GARIMA (Girls’ Adolescent and Reproductive Rights: Information for Management and Action) is a menstrual hygiene program that targeted adolescent girls and their immediate influencers in three districts in Uttar, India. It combined capacity building with strong SBCC interventions that have had a proven impact, speaking to all stakeholders involved in shaping these social norms. The main tools aimed at the girls themselves involved film groups, storybook sessions, and gifts: a personal diary, a poster and an apron showing the female reproductive system. The intervention’s main social norms goal was to break the silence around menstruation, and as such can be inspiring for similarly taboo topics in the space. It is a great example of analysing social norms to ensure all reference groups are included.

Further Information
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Girls’ Holistic Development Project: Grandmothers for Adolescent Girl Health

Social norm(s) addressesd:
“Girls should not talk about menstruation”

Organisation: Grandmother Project

This programme works to create an enabling environment around girls so they can flourish. This is achieved by directly supporting girls while at the same time encouraging community-wide consensus-building for adoption of social norms and attitudes that are more supportive of girls. A unique focus of the programme is the role of grandmothers as a reference group. The intervention creates space for dialogue in communities through a range of activities, of which you can find more detail in the link. In all of these activities, grandmothers are key actors. Along with other community members, they participate in dialogue and debate, and their involvement strengthens their capacity and commitment to lead positive change. Specific activities include grandmother leadership training; grandmother-teacher workshops; and “under-the-tree” participatory learning sessions” with grandmothers, mothers, and girls, which include a variety of activities using stories, songs, games, and discussion pictures to elicit dialogue and increase understanding between the generations.

Further Information
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GREAT Project for married/parenting adolescents

Social norm(s) addressesd:
“Adolescents do not need to discuss puberty and sexuality”; “A community should prioritise education for boys instead of girls”

Organisation: Pathfinder and others

The GREAT project toolkit includes resources such as a boardgame and activity cards aimed at facilitating discussions between and with adolescents, in same-gender groups or together. It is a simple approach that could inspire you to adapt it for your context.

Further Information