UNFPA-UNICEF Joint Programme on the Elimination of Female Genital Mutilation

The UNFPA-UNICEF Joint Programme to Eliminate Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) contributes to ending female genital mutilation or cutting (FGM or cutting) by 2030 through accelerated collective and multi-sectoral action by mobilizing a broad spectrum of actors at community national regional and global levels. It is the largest global programme to accelerate the abandonment of this harmful traditional practice and thereby advance women’s and girls’ rights health and well-being. Project activities include: (1) providing capacity development (including comprehensive sexuality and life skills education) that promotes gender-equitable norms including the eliminating FGM or cutting; (2) implementing an alternative rites of passage programme by supported communities; (3) supporting medical and paramedical schools to mainstream FGM or cutting into curricula training; (4) supporting institutions and systems (education health child protection) to integrate the prevention of and response to FGM or cutting in policies and plans; (5) creating a multi-sectoral evidence-based gender-transformative FGM or cutting elimination policy or strategy; and (6) supporting the development of budgeted emergency preparedness and response and disaster risk reduction plans that integrate sexual and reproductive health gender-based violence and harmful practices. Direct beneficiaries are girls and women at risk of (68 million) or affected by (200 million) FGM or cutting and their families communities local and national institutions particularly in 17 targeted countries (Burkina Faso Djibouti Egypt Eritrea Ethiopia The Gambia Guinea Guinea Bissau Kenya Mali Mauritania Nigeria Senegal Somalia Sudan Uganda and Yemen) and especially in hard-to-reach areas.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) empowered girls and women know and claim rights to their bodily autonomy and together with their families and communities drive changes in social and gender norms; (2) increased access by girls and women to a comprehensive package of high-quality gender-responsive and age-appropriate services; and (3) increased accountability by governments and duty-bearers for resourcing and implementing multi-sectoral policies laws and frameworks to provide prevention and response for women and girls at risk of and affected by female genital mutilation or cutting.