Transforming social norms
A key to sexual and reproductive health in Eastern and Southern Africa
Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) means having control over our bodies, choosing when and if to start a family and being protected from gender-based violence and sexually-transmitted infections like HIV, amongst other issues. However, these rights are not always guaranteed and programmes like 2gether 4 SRHR are working to change that reality.
Social and gender norms are the unwritten rules that dictate what is acceptable and expected within a community, often restricting autonomy and agency. Harmful social and gender norms continue to influence laws, policies, service delivery, and individual behaviours. In Eastern and Southern Africa, norms around gender, sexuality, age, privacy, and ability shape behaviour and institutional responses, from healthcare to education to justice. These norms suppress the agency of adolescents and key populations in particular.
Norms change is not optional. It is essential to achieving Universal Health Coverage and the Sustainable Development Goals on health and on gender equality. The cost of inaction is high, spelling continued cycles of violence against women and girls, preventable HIV infections, poor health outcomes, lost productivity and persistent inequality for vulnerable groups across the region. Unless we address the invisible rules that shape access, agency and protection, progress towards agenda 2030 will remain stalled.
2gether 4 SRHR is committed to embedding gender and social norms insights into SRHR interventions. In May 2025, the programme hosted a workshop to review the latest evidence and best practice. At the Nairobi meeting, United Nations agencies and partners, the African Union and Regional Economic Committees, Civil Society, international, regional, and national research institutions, professional institutions, faith-based organizations and multiple youth networks contributed learnings and made commitments.
A review of evidence of what works when it comes to social norms programming has been summarized on the 2gether 4 SRHR Knowledge Hub.