One Hand Can't Clap by Itself: Engagement of Boys and Men in Kembatti Mentti Gezzimma's Intervention to Eliminate Female Genital Mutilation and Circumcision in Kembatta Zone, Ethiopia

"The successful involvement of men and women as part of a community-wide approach to shifting deep-rooted norms is critical for the abandonment of female genital mutilation and cutting (FGM-C)."

This 30-page report discusses findings of a study to document and assess how Kembatti Mentti Gezzimma (KMG) Ethiopia has engaged with men to challenge social acceptance of, and reduce the prevalence of, female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM-C) in the Kembatta zone of Ethiopia. KMG has been working to encourage communities to abandon the practice of FGM-C for the last two decades. Feedback received by KMG indicates that its interventions have not only reduced the practice of FGM-C, but also reduced other harmful practices against women including bride abduction, widow inheritance, and intimate partner violence.
The report first provides an introduction to the issue of female genital mutilation/cutting, including discussing men's involvement in encouraging abandonment, noting that "although women tend to be the primary decision makers regarding FGM-C of their daughters, men also play a significant role in its continuation and supporting the prevailing norms around the practice, as fathers, husbands, and community leaders."

The study was conducted to fill knowledge gaps about how and why men engage in processes of FGM-C abandonment and how this enables, or relates to, the redistribution of power between men and women. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with KMG staff, male and female beneficiaries, and stakeholders including women's group association members, gezimma (KMG unit) leaders, youth group members, idir (mutual assistance groups or agricultural assistance group) leaders, and religious and sub-district leaders. The evaluation also included using most significant change methodologies, in which all participants were asked to share their most significant personal change as a result of their involvement with KMG's FGM-C intervention, and explain why this was significant to them.

The findings section of the report focuses on KMG's approach to the elimination of FGM-C, which centres on recognising boys and men as agents of change. This includes involving members of community in FGM-C prevention assemblies, supporting boys and men to disseminate prevention information, and developing and implementing sanctions for those who continue the practice. A key part of the intervention is the Community Capacity Enhancement-Community Conversation (CCE-CC) methodology, a participatory learning process focused on strengthening community action related to harmful practices. The community selects 50 participants (25 women and 25 men) who meet twice a month over one and a half years. These community conversations educate men and women collectively about the harmful health, economic and interpersonal effects of FGM-C, and the related benefits of abandoning the practice. The seven stage model combines critical reflection with action: (1) relation building, (2) identification of the issues, (3) explore issues in depth, (4) identify community capacities to address the issues, (5) decision making, (6) action and sanctions, (7) reviewing and reflection. This is accompanied by providing alternative income generating opportunities for traditional circumcisers, and celebrating whole body 'healthy life' events to replace former celebrations of FGM-C.

The study also sought to answer the question - what has changed? According to the report, "All participants expressed that FGM-C has nearly been eradicated in intervention areas in the Kembatta zone, which is strongly attributed to KMG's intervention over the past two decades." It is estimated that between 1999 and 2008, the number of people practising FGM-C in Kembatta zone reduced by approximately 92%. The data also indicated "that the intervention diminished other harmful practices including bride abduction and widow inheritance and generated shifts in men's and women's support for women's access to property inheritance, political participation, positive sexuality, household decision-making, and reducing women’s domestic burden. Although men were effectively engaged in both public and private spaces, men’s participation appeared to be more gender transformative in interpersonal domains."

According to the case study, given the significant achievements, many valuable lessons can be learned from KMG’s approach to engaging men in the elimination of FGM-C in meaningful and sustainable ways. Below outlines a selection from the report's accompanying Story of Change:

• "Participatory community based interventions can prompt reflection and change: KMG’s intervention is grounded in local values and context and makes use of local knowledge. This is particularly critical for interventions on issues like FGM-C, which is a cultural and traditional practice deeply rooted in local context.
• Use a gender synchronous approach: By prioritising both men and women's needs and providing opportunities for exchange and collaboration among them, the CCE-CCs allow for consciousness raising discussions with men and women, awareness campaigns and collectively provided skills training.
• Men are more likely to engage in work on FGM-C if they understand how it benefits them and their families: KMG appreciates the ways that FGM-C affects men in relation to women – as fathers, brothers and husbands. It uses this as a motivating factor, which encourages men’s involvement in the intervention.
• Patriarchal norms can be challenged: Both women and men make decisions about FGM-C, and men have much influence, especially at leadership level. Through the intervention, male and female community members are able to reflect on the harm that FGM-C does and work to alter the gender norms preventing its abandonment."

The assessment concluded that the intervention "encouraged communities to reflect on how FGM-C is driven by gender inequalities and norms including around women’s marriageability, which advocated for men’s role in shifting social norms condoning the practice. Combining gender transformative reflection and awareness raising with community activism and economic empowerment was effective not only in combatting FGM but also in shifting gender relations, which impacted positively on women’s rights in other spheres of their lives including positive sexuality and economic empowerment. " However, "key questions that remain to be addressed are how interventions such as KMG can support men’s role as change agents in ways that do not inadvertently reinforce their social and political dominance, or control over women’s bodies, but rather transform patriarchal norms and institutions. Overall, there is a need to better understand the processes and relations between shifts in men’s roles and attitudes in private and public spaces."

Click here to download the full Case Study in PDF Format.