Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) Program

Background

The objective of the FGM evaluation was to evaluate NCA's cross regional program on FGM and not the individual projects where NCA is involved. The program was originally for 10 projects in 6 countries (Mali, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Sudan and Somalia and Kenya), but during the initial 4-year program the program had increased to 21 projects in 9 countries as also Mauritania, Egypt and Tanzania had been added. As the first phase ( 4-years ) has come to an end, it was felt that the achievements and lessons learned during the first phase of the program should be assessed and carefully analyzed before a new program phase should be designed. The evaluation has shed light on the key strategic elements and its relevance as well as identified certain needs for adjustment and re-design in NCA' s new 5 year plan.

Purpose/objective

Another element of the evaluation was to establish to what extent NCA and partners have met objectives based agreements in project documents, what challenges they had faced during the 4 year period, and to recommend strategies and methodologies for the next phase. The evaluation is meant to contribute to further improvement of anti FGM campaigns by the collation, analyse and disseminate experiences from current and completed activities. Among others the findings from the evaluation exercise were to provide quality information generated from stakeholders, which would help to guide NCA's future program development and thus improve relevance and effectiveness of its support to projects and partners in Africa.

Methodology

The evaluation employed largely qualitative data collection techniques. Participatory approaches were applied. Data was generated through focus groups discussions with men and women, key informant interviews with traditional leaders, religious leaders, government and local authorities, circumcisers, project managers and women animators, teachers and female adolescents. Literature review was also conducted on NCA's publications, project reports, as well as visits to local health centers and discussions with various stakeholders.

Key findings

Main activities were focused on awareness raising, advocacy targeting religious leaders as opinion makers to influence decisions, capacity building of NCA staff and partners on FGM for project implementation and addressing FGM as a human rights issue.
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- Awareness-raising had been quite successful in providing information on female physiology, the health consequence of the practice, internalizations of the harmful effects of FGM, new knowledge on religion, culture and genital mutilation.

­- Although awareness-raising had not always translated into behavioural change, it had however, helped some communities to initiate a change continuum that in itself was considered important.

­- Alternative "cutting" practices had increased in some places by "sunna" replacing infibulation.

­- The perceptions and attitudes towards uncircumcised girls had had a positive change in some communities.

- Due to concerted IEC activities circumcision had ceased to be a taboo subject for discussion in many areas.
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- Increased knowledge of the health risks by the practice, including the risk of HIV/AIDS.
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- In some communities the practice had gone underground as a result of directives issued by some community and administrative leaders.
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- The community fora convened for information and education, the dialogues and debates among men and women had helped to empower some women.
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- FGM as a human rights issue had not been addressed adequately, in spite this had been one of the objectives of the program.

Recommendations

­- A greater need to match human and financial resources with the volume of work and identification of geographical focus for monitoring and evaluation purposes.
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- Increased involvement at country level staff and partners in the development of strategy in order to create a sense of ownership.
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- Consolidate successes and maximise on the inroads made with religious organizations and networking with other organizations to develop program advocacy strategy that can be translated into country programs.
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- RBA should be reflected in the program log frame and appropriate tools and capacities should be developed to incorporate the approach at all levels.
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- NCA should review skills needed for program delivery, assess competences, mapping of resources available and develop a training strategy.
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- As awareness-raising had been the most successful deliverable in the first phase, this should be developed further by asking key relevant questions.
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- Address the discrepancy between acquisition of skills and translation into appropriate program management techniques.
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- Every project should aim at building community consensus.

Comments from the organisation

FGM is violation of the fundamental human rights, and is one of the worst forms of gender-based discrimination practiced in Eastern and Western Africa. The fight against FGM is also a fight for gender equality and the right of girls and women to live a dignified life. Through our efforts to end FGM, NCA believes that women's dignity, self-esteem and power would be enhanced. Hopefully this study will be a valuable contribution in the ongoing fight against ending FGM practices in Africa.