UNFPA-UNICEF Joint Programme on the Elimination of Female Genital Mutilation
Accelerating the elimination of an extreme form of violence against girls.
Everywhere it is practiced, female genital mutilation (FGM) is an expression of entrenched gender inequality. Girls subjected to FGM are subjected to a systematic form of violence. Survivors often require life-saving care – urgent treatment to staunch haemorrhage, antibiotics to quell infections, surgery to address urinary backup or emergency obstetric care for complicated deliveries.
FGM persists for various reasons, including cultural and economic factors that make it difficult for girls, women and communities to abandon the practice. But it cannot forever withstand the voices of survivors mobilizing to change beliefs. The aim of the UNFPA-UNICEF Joint Programme is to accelerate the inevitable demise of this harmful practice.
Our response
UNICEF, in partnership with UNFPA, works to tackle female genital mutilation through interventions in 17 countries: Burkina Faso, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Mali, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Sudan, Somalia, Uganda and Yemen.
The Joint Programme is generously supported by the Governments of Austria, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Norway, AECID (Spain), Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States of America, as well as the European Union. The Joint Programme, currently implementing Phase III, works with communities to transform social norms from within, while partnering with Governments to promote laws banning the practice and to ensure that girls have access to quality services for child protection and sexual and reproductive health.
In 2020, some notable results from the 16 countries covered by the Joint Programme include:
- More than 2.2 million people across 2,156 communities made public declarations of FGM abandonment.
- 576, 651 girls and women received services in health care, social welfare, and access to justice.
- 51.9 million people reached by radio and TV programmes promoting FGM prevention.
- 90,302 girls across 3,622 communities gained skills and knowledge to advocate for their rights and become agents of change.
Additional key achievements include: the African Union launched its Accountability Framework for monitoring Member States’ progress towards ending FGM; Sudan introduced long-awaited legislation banning FGM; and Kenya launched a Presidential Plan of Action to End FGM by 2022.
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Last modified June 2021
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Resources
A Research Agenda to Strengthen Evidence Generation and Utilisation to Accelerate the Elimination of FGM
This agenda outlines evidence gaps and research priorities that need to be addressed to eliminate FGM over the next five years.
Technical Guidance: A Comprehensive Approach to Accelerating the Elimination of Female Genital Mutilation
This technical guidance informs the design and implementation of programmes aiming to end female genital mutilation at global, regional and country levels.
Effectiveness of Interventions Designed to Prevent or Respond to Female Genital Mutilation
This research report conveys key findings on the quality and strength of existing evidence on FGM interventions from 2008 to 2020.
The ACT Framework Package: Measuring Social Norms Around Female Genital Mutilation
The ACT Framework is a macro-level monitoring and evaluation framework containing a compendium of indicators to track and measure social norms change resulting from social and behavior change interventions addressing FGM.
Resilience in Action: Lessons learned from the Joint Programme during the COVID-19 crisis
Drawing on rapid assessments, surveys, and consultations with country and regional offices, this brief presents Joint Programme strategies for adapting interventions in the face of the pandemic, and captures learning that informs the programme’s future strategic planning.
Participatory Research Toolkit for Social Norms Measurement
This toolkit is a practical ‘how to’ document intended to enhance social-norms-related programme efforts.
Compendium of Indicators on Female Genital Mutilation
This compendium builds on previous documents and analyses, and attempts to consolidate FGM indicators together.
Policy Brief: Enabling Environments for Eliminating Female Genital Mutilation
This policy brief builds on evidence emerging from the review of key policy and legal developments in all countries where female genital mutilation is prevalent, and in particular experiences from the Joint Programme.
Empowering Girls and Women to Lead Change: Annual Report 2019
Accelerating Change targets the most vulnerable and marginalized girls and women, who face multiple and intersecting factors that increase their risk of undergoing this harmful practice.
Proposal for Phase III of the UNFPA-UNICEF Joint Programme on the Elimination of Female Genital Mutilation: Accelerating Change
Since 2008, UNFPA and UNICEF have been implementing the Joint Programme to Eliminate Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).
Ending Female Genital Mutilation – An Investment in the Future
This investment case shows the action required to ensure an additional 68 million girls are not subjected to FGM by 2030.
The ACT Framework: Towards a new M&E model for measuring social norms change around female genital mutilation
The ACT Framework measures and tracks changes in social norms in relation to female genital mutilation. It includes a menu of tested mixed-method tools and indicators that is accessible and practical for programme planners and is adaptable to the local context.
Joint Programme on the Elimination of Female Genital Mutilation Annual Report 2018
This report summarizes the achievements of the first year of phase III of the UNFPA-UNICEF Joint Programme on the Elimination of Female Genital Mutilation: Accelerating Change.
Evaluation of the UNFPA-UNICEF Joint Programme on the Abandonment of Female Genital Mutilation: Accelerating Change
Independent evaluation of the Joint Programme phase I and II (2008–2017).
Evaluation Summary of the UNFPA-UNICEF Joint Programme on the Abandonment of Female Genital Mutilation: Accelerating Change (English, French, Spanish, Arabic)
Summary brief of the independent evaluation of the Joint Programme phase I and II (2008–2017).
How to Transform a Social Norm
Part one of this three-part reflection addresses the challenges and strategies employed by the Joint Programme through a social norms lens.
Putting It All Together: A Case Study from Nigeria
Part two of this three-part reflection is a case study of the Joint Programme in Nigeria, a country where 10 million girls will be at risk of FGM by 2030.
Transformation in Action: Tales from Phase II
Part three of this three-part reflection looks at programme strategies to eliminate FGM.
Joint Programme to Eliminate FGM Performance Analysis for Phase II, 2014–2017
This report demonstrates the positive difference the Joint Programme has made in galvanizing support for the elimination of FGM across its 17 implementation countries.