Proposal for the Prevention of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting and Early Marriage in Laikipia North District
ROPE (Reaching Out For Pastoralists Girl Child Education)
Project Duration:
September 2010 – February 2010
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Tlf nr: 481 93 140 Kontonr: 0539 5848234
Epost: Wazalendobergen@yahoo.com Organisation nr: 995304988
Webside: www.wazalendobergen.com Blogg: wazalendobergen.blogspot.com/
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TITLE PAGE…………………………………………………………………………………1
TABLE OF CONTENTS…………………………………………………………………….2
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS...……………………………………………………………...3
PROJECT SUMMARY……………………………………………………………………...4
BACKGROUND INFORMATION…………………………………………………………4
PROJECT DESIGN………………………………………………………………………….5
TARGET GROUPS/BENEFICIARIES…………………………………………………….6
STRATEGIES …………………...…………………………………………………………...8
PARTNERSHIPS …………………………………………………………………………….8
CAPACITY BUILDING……………………………………………………………………...8
SUSTAINABILITY…………………………………………………………………………...9
STRATEGIC PLAN…………………………………………………………………………..9
CONCLUSION………………………………………………………………………………..10
WORKPLAN………………………………………………………………………………….11
BUDGET………………………………………………………………………………………13
APPENDIX (PHOTOS) .……………………………………………………………………..15
LIST ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS
ARPs - Alternative rite of passage
CBO - Community based Organization
CDF – Community Development Fund
CHEWs - Community Health Extension Workers
CORPs - Community Own Resource Persons
CSO - Civil Society Organizations
DC - District Commissioner
FGD - Focus Group Discussion
FGM/C- Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting
GOK - Government of Kenya
HIV/AIDS- Human Immuno Deficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
HRC - Human Rights Clubs
IMR – Infant Mortality Rate
NGOs- Non Governmental Organization
M and E - Monitoring and Evaluation
MMR – Maternal Mortality Rate
RVF – Rectal Vesico-fistula
SWEEDO – Samburu Women for Education & Environmental Dev Organization
VVF – Vaginal vesico-fistula
UN – United Nations
WHO – World Health Organization
1.0 PROJECT SUMMARY
ROPE: This an acronym for Reaching Out to Pastoralist Girl Child Education, an organization involved in prevention of Female Genital Mutilation and Cutting in Laikipia North district. It symbolizes a rope, an essential tool in a Maasai woman’s life- for building houses, carrying water and fire wood and tying the donkey during migration in times of drought. It is registered by the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Development. The main goal of this organization is to use human rights and demand side approach to strengthen the safety and resilience of women by creating awareness on the effects of FGM/C and promoting girl child education in under-served areas of Laikipia North by securing a prosperous future for indigenous communities.
The pastoralist community of Laikipia North is steeped in its culture which includes female genital mutilation and cutting and early or forced marriages which have disenfranchised women for years. Domestic violence and lack of women representation in community/household decision making are common occurrences.
With high illiteracy and poverty levels, the community of Laikipia North lacks modern living basic tools to sustain their livelihoods and those of their posterity. Women and girls bear the brunt of this situation more than men.
In view of this situation, ROPE was formed to address these challenges with its core mandate of securing livelihoods of the indigenous women as well as facilitating them to advance and protect their aspirations collectively. By creating awareness on the negative consequences of FGM/C and the importance of girl child education, this organization has the up hill task of changing a community’s long held belief in female circumcision and early marriages which has been almost impossible due to lack of funding for such critical support like office space, basic office running items and travel costs for advocacy, a crucial component of the project.
2.0 BACKGROUND
Laikipia North is one of the districts of the larger Laikipia, located in the northern Rift Valley province of Kenya. It has a population of 25,881 people and covers 1,250 KM2. The district has 2 divisions, 10 locations and 14 sub locations.
The literacy level is 36.1%. This is extremely low compared to the national literacy rate of 85% for men and 75% for women. In lower primary school, the ratio of girls to boys is 10:15, in class 5-6 the ratio is 5:10, while in class 7-8, the ratio is 2:7. These ratios demonstrate a marked decline in the attendance of girls although boys also drop out to join moranism or herdsmanship but it should be noted their decline is less dramatic.
Resource allocation processes at both the national and devolved government units have historically tended to give most attention to urban and peri-urban areas and populations. Despite the allocation of Community Development Funds to constituencies, decision making and prioritization is done at the constituency office which is in the urban Laikipia East district. Thus, the rural remote nomadic populations of Laikipia north especially the women, have not had its interests properly taken care of regarding issues of resource allocation and distribution. As a result this, the community has continued with its harmful age-old traditional practices.
PROBLEM STATEMENT
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), an estimated 100 to 140 million girls and women worldwide are currently living the consequences of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C). UN resolution 1325 emphasizes the responsibilities of all states and governments to put an end to impunity and to prosecute those responsible for war crimes relating to sexual and other violence against women and girls. FGM/C is internationally recognized as a violation of the basic human rights of girls and women as stated by the United Nations. FGM/C is practiced in more than half of the countries in Africa. These countries with Egypt having the highest proportion are Somalia, Senegal, Ethiopia, Sudan, Mali, Kenya, Tanzania, etc.
In Africa about 3 million girls are at risk of the practice annually. FGM/C coupled with early marriages, have been one of the main obstacles to girl’s socio-economic development especially in areas where this practice is rampant. FGM/C and early marriages are inter-twinned since the first is a rite of passage into adulthood for the girls. The second is a cultural practice where the young girls are married off by their parents sometimes against their will and denied the opportunities to continue with their education. Their parents get dowry in the form of cows and/or other gifts in return thus perpetuating the practice.
In a survey conducted in Kenya in 1998, 38% of women 15-19 years old were found to have undergone FGM/C. In some communities within the country, the practice is as high as 80%. According to a survey conducted in 2007 by Il Ng’wesi Health Program staff in Laikipia North District, 85% of women interviewed said they had undergone FGM/C. Further, SWEEDO, a women development project in 2008, conducted a pilot study on FGM/C and early marriage in Laikipia North District. The respondents ranged in age from 15 to 80 and were asked a series of questions that were designed to assess their knowledge, attitudes, and practice with respect to both FGM/C and early marriages. The findings clearly demonstrate that the elders dictate the fate of youth’s reproductive health issues. Men decide on all issues on behalf of women, in spite of the youth’s desire for prevention of FGM. The study also found out that the low literacy level adversely affects the reproductive health of women, girls and the youth in general and concluded that there is need for vigorous sensitization on the above issues through mass education and/or open dialogue. The foregoing findings fuel the basis for the ROPE anti-FGM/C and Early Marriage campaign. It is tailored to the specific context of the Laikipia Maasai community, which we believe will ultimately make the endeavor more effective.
Female genital mutilation/cutting is the community’s means of initiating a girl into womanhood and preventing promiscuity. Due to the young age at which girls are initiated – sometimes as early as 8 years, they ultimately end up being married off in some cases to men who are old enough to be their fathers. Those who fall pregnant before marriage are forced to undergo painful abortion and are stigmatized. FGM complicates the birth process leading to the deaths of women and their babies. MMR is 10/1000 while IMR is 17/1000. As only 14% of women deliver in health facilities (most of them with complications) where data is captured, the DPHN believes these figures could be higher. Medical fistula complications like VVF and RVF (severe complications that damage the bladder and rectal control of a woman, reducing her ability to maintain personal hygiene) are common though due to stigma, women rarely seek medical help.
JUSTIFICATION FOR FUNDING
The WHO estimates that 85% of all the girls who undergo the practice drop out of school and eventually find themselves in forced and/or early marriages. Medical emergencies arising from FGM/C complications are common and often lead to death. FGM/C also exposes the girls to contracting HIV. This is due to the fact that, when it is done at home, a common blade/instrument is used in cutting, heightening the risk of contamination and/or exposure to other infections/diseases. Due to the strict local culture, the majority of girls/women have no formal education and lack access to vital information on the harmful effects of FGM/C and early marriages. They have no say in the decision to either have/not have FGM or get married.
This proposal arises from the long standing experience and in depth observations by ROPE of actual deplorable conditions for women and girls in the pastoralist communities of Laikipia North in respect to their reproductive health.
Through community dialogue, advocacy campaigns, training of various groups and providing alternative rite of passage, this project will give the community a culturally acceptable and medically safe means of initiating girls into womanhood. It will further give the girls a chance to pursue their education thus improving their quality of life and that of their entire community.
These activities require regular traveling into the community, yet the project has not had any funding and relies on individual initiatives of group members. If the current proposal is funded, ROPE intends to embark on the above listed activities in an attempt lead to reduced prevalence of FGM/C and early/forced marriages.
PROJECT DESIGN
Project Goal
Use of a human rights and demand elevation approach to strengthen the safety and resilience of women by creating awareness on the harmful effects of FGM/C and promoting girl child education in under-served areas of Laikipia North.
Broad Objective
The project intends to reduce the prevalence of female genital mutilation/cutting and early marriages in Laikipia North District, by 20%, within five years.
Specific Objectives : The project intends to accomplish the following objectives:-
1. Create community awareness of the emotional, psychological, and physical risks associated with FGM/C and early marriages, and violation of fundamental human rights, as well as the laws of Kenya.
2. Provide a forum for community members to communicate openly about FGM/C and early marriage, across generational barriers.
3. Form community working groups for promotion of ownership by stakeholders
4. Provide a culturally acceptable alternative to FGM/C
5. Provide a safe haven for girls unwilling to undergo FGM/C and early marriage for further education
Target Groups
• Girls and boys enrolled in primary schools – These are the potential adults/parents. Providing them with information and education about the harm that FGM/C contributes to girls/women and to society at large will lay a good foundation for the eradication of this practice.
• Girls and boys not enrolled in school - These are the potential adults/parents. Providing them with information and education about the harm that FGM/C contributes to girls/women and to society at large will lay a good foundation for the eradication of this practice.
• Parents – FGM/C is not a ‘women’s problem’ but a societal problem. Sensitizing and educating parents will provide a basis for ensuring that the practice is reduced and consequently eradicated
• Teachers – Due to the position they hold in society, teachers are very important change agents. They command respect in society and if they educate those who go through the education system, the practice will surely be reduced and consequently be eradicated in future
• Community – Since FGM/C is a societal problem, all members of communities that practice it should be sensitized so that there is a complete understanding of the problem.
• Elected leaders – Sensitizing elected leaders about the harm that is contributed by FGM/C helps a great deal since the community depends on them for guidance. They will therefore be very important change agents. Their contribution is of great magnitude.
Beneficiaries
Primary Beneficiaries
Girls
Secondary Beneficiaries
Women
Tertiary Beneficiaries
Community at large
Expected results
A timely and proper implementation of the interventions is expected to yield the following outcomes:-
1. Awareness by the community as a whole on the harmful effects of FGM/C to women’s health.
2. Improved health status and safety for local women and young girls.
3. Reduced MMR by 5% in 5 years
4. Reduced IMR by 5% in 5 years
5. Improved girls’ literacy levels at upper primary level to 13:15 ratio in 5 years
6. Enhanced decision making skills for women
7. Reduced cases of abortion procured locally in unsafe, unsanitary and cruel ways
8. Enhanced capacities of the community and partner organizations in driving forward their health and social agenda on behalf of pastoralist communities.
Strategies to achieve the expected results above (Ordered in respect of each result)
• Girl child enrollment and retention in primary schools
• Community dialogue on female related issues
• Formation of working groups at lower levels
• Formation of human rights clubs in primary schools
• Introduction of guidance and counseling activities in schools
• Youth friendly reproductive health services in health facilities
• Regular alternative rite of passage ceremonies in the communities
• Partner support in anti FGM/early marriage activities
PARTNERSHIP
• Government Officials - These are the policy implementers at community level and are resource persons in enforcement of the policies/laws
Health workers and teachers will teach reproductive health issues and help in forming human rights clubs in schools
• Local authorities – elected local authorities officials are decision makers at community level and will help the project to be heard
• CSOs – as advocates of the civil rights of community members they will assist in mobilization and sensitization of community members
• NGOs –The network of NGOs will assist in logistical support and sharing of lessons learnt
• Community members – participation and ownership is crucial for the sustainability of the project.
CAPACITY BUILDING
Orientation meetings, Barazas, FGDs and trainings will be the strategies used to capacity build the communities to openly discuss FGM and early marriages, seek common ground for the involvement of all and find culturally acceptable alternatives to FGM while ensuring rite of passage.
So as to avoid conflict with elders who are custodians of local cultures, the project plans to promote dialogue and training programs for different age sets on the harmful effects of FGM/C and the benefits of embracing alternative rites of passage. The project recognizes the need for the provision of a rescue centre for girls forced into FGM and forced, early marriages and women threatened with domestic violence.
SUSTAINABILITY
1. Financial level
Key organizational leaders and staff will be trained in resource mobilization skills and will be linked to appropriate funding agencies to be able to finance their causes in future. ROPE will integrate a strong advocacy component in their programs so that they can further empower local people to own the project, take up responsibility for their own lives and also lobby government for increased funding.
With sustained and focused lobby and advocacy by networking with other indigenous people’s, NGO, GOK, international organizations and the communities within Kenya, it is envisaged that funding from both devolved as well as national government, will prioritize indigenous women/girls needs. Policy reforms in the departments of social services, gender, will bring increased funding for anti FGM/C campaigns.
1. Institutional level:
To employ a full time project coordinator and assistant and support to meet expenses of office space and necessary equipment, survival of this project will be greatly enhanced. This will result in improved capacities for fundraising and resource mobilization by working with local authorities to ensure that this FGM/C, which is against the law in Kenya, is completely eradicated.
2. Community Level
Promotion of the alternative rite of passage, once entrenched into the community structure will be a part of the community events that they can manage on their own.
Building of a rescue shelter for gender based violence victims which includes; FGM/C, forced/early marriages, rape; this will allow those too young and unwilling to undergo FGM/C to have a safe haven. These girls will have time to pursue their education and enhance their decision making skills thus growing into confident women who can improve and sustain the well being of their community.
3. Policy level:
The action is anticipated to influence improved girl child rights. Lobby and advocacy activities will ultimately ensure that justice is given to young girls who have had no say on whether or not they should undergo FGM/C.
STRATEGIC PLAN
• Orientation and FGM meetings conducted will ensure involvement of all thus setting the stage for future dialogue among all community members that is currently only in the male domain.
• The improved literacy of the girl child will ensure a continuous culture of educating girls in future
• Acceptance of the alternative right of passage will wean the community away from dependency on FGM as a means of initiating girls into womanhood.
• Provision of a rescue centre will send a message to the stubborn male population that girls can find a safe haven, protected by the law, thus relaxing their rigidity.
CONCLUSION
There is a huge potential that a great deal of positive development will be achieved for the girl child if this project is kept running sustainably.
ROPE is therefore seeking KES 1,980,000 ($24,750) to strengthen the capacity of Laikipia North District indigenous women/girls to support and advance their self development and aspirations for an initial period of Six month (6) months. Implementation of the project activities will commence from the award of funding. Since ROPE is an already existing non-governmental organization, the funding will supplement its on-going activities. However, this will be a very worthwhile boost to the activities of FGM/C and early and/or forced marriages It should be noted that the project area is in a semi-arid and sparsely populated. The road network is poor and in some cases roads do not exist making travel quite difficult.
