The Challenge

In Côte d’Ivoire, especially at the northern border with Burkina Faso, in a region called Bouna, rising cross-border crime and violent extremist groups have worsened security, amplifying gender-related issues.

Women and girls face significant challenges, with 36.7% of women aged 15 to 49 experiencing female genital mutilation and 58% of girls under 15 married in some areas. These inequalities, including a literacy rate of only 36.3% for women compared to 53.3% for men, restrict women’s autonomy and economic opportunities.

To address these issues, the Resilience for Peace (R4P) program, funded by USAID and implemented by Equal Access International (EAI), is incorporating a gender-sensitive approach to engage community leaders to promote positive masculinity and reduce gender-based violence. By empowering women and fostering gender equality, the program aims to strengthen community resilience and contribute to lasting peace in these vulnerable regions.

The Objectives

Promote Positive Masculinity: Engage men in self-awareness and emotional intelligence to improve communication, conflict resolution, and relationship building.

Empower Women and Foster Gender Equality: Strengthen resilience by empowering women in their communities and promoting gender equality.

Reduce Instances of Gender-Based Violence: Encourage men to challenge harmful gender norms, leading to a reduction in gender-based violence.

Foster Collective Community Accountability: Engage community leaders and men in promoting gender equality, contributing to increased resilience in communities and peacebuilding between genders.

What We Did

Responding to Ivorian gender dynamics

How did we tailor our approach to take into account the complex dynamics between genders in Côte d’Ivoire?

Impact - Outcomes, Outputs and the Future

How can we take this further and ensure long-lasting impact?