Even though more than one model has been applied to eradicate FGC in Egypt, advocacy was always the least utilized. Moreover, NGOs rarely documented or evaluated the processes followed in implementing their interventions. This meta-assessment conducted by the Population Council's FRONTIERS Project in Egypt was designed to document and critically assess interventions used by NGOs and governmental programs to combat FGC. Detailed information was collected through face-to-face interviews with 19 officials of selected organizations including NGOs and representatives of the Ministry of Health and Population, UNICEF and UNFPA. Findings indicated that four major models of FGC are used in Egypt. They include awareness raising, using key community members as change agents, community development approach and advocacy. This paper reports on the results of the advocacy component of the study. It was found that advocacy was usually confused with other terms such as awareness raising. NGOs seldom conduct any policy or media advocacy. It was also found that advocacy interventions were not based on sound communication frameworks in their design and they lacked having an evaluation component. Therefore, the study recommends equipping NGOs with basic advocacy skills to contribute to creating a positive social and political environment against FGC in Egypt. It also stresses the need to develop special indicators to measure the different stages of attitude and behavioral change and advocacy efforts related to FGC. Finally, NGOs should be trained to use these indicators and other simple research techniques to improve the overall quality of their interventions.
Learning Objectives: 1. Assess the different components of FGC interventions used in Egypt especially advocacy 2. Explore current gaps in the implementation of FGC advocacy interventions 3. Recommend follow up actions
Keywords: Female Genital Mutilation, Advocacy
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.