The US foreign aid funding freeze is threatening the stability of community-based organizations and their vital work for children and young people worldwide.
How GFC partner s are changing the game in Côte d'Ivoire
By By Ame Atsu David, Ramanou Babaedjou, and members of Mano River Alliance for Girls Education
Editor’s note: This blog is also available in French.
The issue of pregnancies in school remains a major challenge in Côte d’Ivoire. In June 2024, the National Council for Human Rights (CNDH) recorded 4173 cases of pregnancies among girls in school, including 408 cases in the Tonkpi region. These alarming figures highlight the urgent need to act to protect girls’ education.
Since 2022, a group of local organizations united under the Mano River Alliance for Girls’ Education (AFMEF), supported by Global Fund for Children, has been working in the Tonkpi region to address this issue. Their innovative strategies and community-led approach are beginning to yield tangible results. Below an overview of the strategies they are implementing and the impacts being observed.
A holistic approach to preventing pregnancies in school
AFMEF has opted for a holistic approach, tackling the root causes of the problems encountered by girls in their educational journey and implementing cross-cutting actions in various fields. These strategies are not limited to sporadic awareness-raising campaigns but go further by actively involving all the actors concerned, including the girls themselves. They also aim to overcome the social, cultural and psychological obstacles that stand in the way of girls’ education. This holistic approach includes:
1. Building girls’ confidence and autonomy
The programs implemented by AFMEF place a particular emphasis on mentoring, leadership development and the empowerment of girls. These programs allow young girls to become aware of their rights, learn to manage their bodies and develop better self-esteem and leadership. For example, Leila Soumahoro, a participant in Union des Jeunes Dynamiques de Man (UJDM) program, shares:
“During our training, several topics were addressed, but the one that struck me the most was that of self-esteem. Self-esteem represents the importance and the value we give ourselves.”
Girls are actively involved in creating solutions to overcome the challenges they face, such as early marriage, sexual harassment or pressures related to having sex at an early age. This co-creation process strengthens their autonomy and ability to make informed decisions and seek help.
2. Boys’ involvement in the fight for gender justice
Another fundamental element of AFMEF program is the involvement of boys in the promotion of gender justice. Rather than considering boys as mere bystanders, AFMEF urges them to recognize their responsibilities and become active allies in reducing sexual violence and unwanted pregnancies. Noël Blé, a participant in Association for the Development and Promotion of the Family (ADPF program, has changed his behaviour thanks to the comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) sessions offered by ADPF:
“Before, I didn’t have respect for girls. I posted inappropriate photos and made sexists jokes. Since I participated in the CSE sessions facilitated by ADPF in Man and took part in the mini summit of adolescent girls organized in Man in July 2023, my perception of girls has completely changed. Today, I have become more respectful of girls and even consider myself an activist committed to promoting their rights.”
3. Collaboration with schools and advocacy for CSE teaching in schools
Comprehensive sexuality education (CSE), referred to as Health and Healthy Living Education in Côte d’Ivoire, is a powerful tool to protect the health of young people. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), it teaches children and young people the knowledge, skills and behaviours needed to maintain their well-being. Although Côte d’Ivoire has integrated CSE into the school curriculum, its teaching remains insufficient, mainly due to the lack of teacher training. To address this gap, AFMEF organizations collaborate with schools and local authorities, such as the Primary Education Inspectorate (IEP) and the Regional Directorates of Education and Literacy (DRENA), to train teachers to address these topics in an appropriate and interactive way.
"I have observed that the behaviors of students who participate in the sessions of the Union des Jeunes Dynamiques de Man (UJDM) have changed positively). These students have now become leaders and role models. I even decided to extend the teaching of CSE to all the girls in my school.
Mr. Alain ZIKAGBEU, Director of Studies of the College of Professors in Man.
Mr. Raoul Robalé Adjilétier, Secretary General of the DRENA of Danané, shares the same sentiments:
“We hope that the creation and facilitation of safe spaces for students to learn about CSE will be institutionalized and extended to other departments in the Tonkpi region.”
4. Working with communities to support girls’ education
In several villages, the lack of secondary schools, forces adolescents to leave their communities and move to the city, where they often find themselves without family support, exposing them to significant vulnerabilities. Girls are particularly vulnerable to sexual exploitation to survive. To remedy this situation, AFMEF raises awareness among local communities on the importance of supporting girls’ education and helps them create Village Savings and Loans (VSLAs) that allow them to generate income to support the education of their children, especially girls.
Mrs. Germaine Camara, head of the VSLA Zoueudo group in Petit Danané, explains:
“In the past, we faced lots of challenges in sending our children to school. Thanks to the support of the NGO Siloé, we have been able to establish a VSLA initiative. Today, this initiative allows us not only to save and give out loans, but also to have enough money to support our children’s education.”
The positive results of these initiatives are already visible. Mr. Alain Zikagbeu, Director of Studies at the College of Teachers of Man, testifies:
“I can say with certainty that the actions of UJDM have contributed to zero declared pregnancy in our school this year, unlike in previous years when several cases were recorded.”
This shows that when girls are supported and surrounded by mentors, caring peers and engaged communities, it is possible to stop such dramatic phenomena as early pregnancy. These innovative actions and their tangible impact underline the importance of supporting and expanding these kinds of initiatives.
