Community engagement is key to ensuring that programs are appropriately contextualized and that communities have the skills and support needed to sustain initiatives after a project ends. Effective engagement ensures community buy-in, which is essential to bring about lasting change—particularly change that shifts cultural norms, like educating girls and women or ending gender-based violence. Â
We engage communities to participate in program delivery, and contribute to and support teaching and learning. Together, we work to overcome development challenges like limited or no access to water, health, and social welfare services. We mobilize resources and work to change harmful cultural norms related to gender and human rights, including child protection, gender-based violence, child marriage prevention, gender equity, and inclusion.Â
Our work is centered on approaches that invite communities to assess, plan, and implement activities, while we provide capacity building and monitoring as needed. We equip grassroots-level non governmental nongovermental organizations, women-led advocacy and saving groups, community health groups, parent teacher associations, and school management committees with the practical, organizational, financial, and strategic planning skills and systems to manage activities on their own. Over the longer term, these approaches can foster democratic practices and civil society development.Â