Dialogue sessions across all Change project communities to identify and address harmful gender-related practices impacting gender equity and nutrition

The Change Project team in Nanumba South District, led by the Department of Gender and the Community Development Unit of the District Assembly, organized community dialogue sessions across all project communities to identify and address harmful gender-related practices impacting gender equity and nutrition. The sessions revealed that although women are involved in decision-making at the household level, they are often excluded from key community-level decisions. Additionally, men demonstrated limited knowledge of menstrual hygiene due to cultural taboos, leading to inadequate support for adolescent girls, and persistent gender stereotypes in household responsibilities were also highlighted as a concern.

In response to these findings, community members developed action plans focused on increasing women’s participation in community leadership, improving men’s understanding and support of menstrual health, and addressing gender-based divisions of labor in homes. Notably, the chiefs of Garikpe and Kapugu committed to including two women in their traditional decision-making processes, marking a significant step toward inclusive governance and cultural transformation.