In Uganda, great advances have been made in reducing rates of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). The national average of women aged 15-49 who have undergone FGM stands at 0.3%. But in the eastern region of Uganda, the figure jumps to 50% (UNICEF, 2020). There is also a high rate of Child and Early Forced Marriage (CEFM) across Uganda (40% of girls are married before 18), highlighting how women and girls at risk of FGM are also affected by ongoing forms of gender-based violence.

Building on ten years of work between Womankind and NAWOU, this project will take a community-wide approach to tackling social norms that perpetuate FGM in Eastern Uganda. Project activities include; trained community members leading dialogues on the harms of FGM with religious and cultural leaders, girls hosting radio shows to discuss their rights, training on saving, and establishing a Village Saving and Loan Association to highlight the importance of an independent income in saying no to FGM.