Critical analysis of interventions against FGC [female genital cutting] in Egypt

This report identifies and assesses four models of intervention against FGC: (1) awareness-raising; (2) selecting some members of the community to serve as change agents (facilitators) in their communities; (3) integrating anti-FGC messages into community development activities; and (4) advocacy. The report finds that each model has its strengths and limitations. (1) Awareness-raising lectures and seminars spread the message against FGC to a large audience. However, both the format and content of the message, which focuses on the health hazards of FGC, compromise the effectiveness of this approach. (2) Using selected community members to serve as facilitators could be highly effective in changing people"s knowledge and attitudes, as people are more likely to trust such facilitators. Facilitators also ensure a certain level of sustainability for anti-FGC activities. However, the quality of training currently provided to facilitators is questionable. Furthermore, in many cases facilitators are not provided a well-defined agenda to pursue. (3) The community development approach targets all members of the community and hence is likely to influence all stages of the behavioral change process. This approach also addresses some of the root causes of the problem such as illiteracy, gender inequality, and low socioeconomic development. On the negative side, this approach may be somewhat expensive and labor-intensive, and its geographical reach is limited. (4) Advocacy activities are important for creating a strong social and political environment against FGC. However, very few organizations conduct advocacy activities. Clear definitions of advocacy and comprehensive understanding of its dynamic components are also absent. Only a few NGOs organize media advocacy activities to raise an issue on the public agenda. This opens a significant opportunity for using this approach more effectively. All of the above approaches lack sound evaluation methodologies for measuring the impact of interventions. Absent such methodologies, organizations will not be able to distinguish between interventions that work and those that do not. Nor will they be able to identify strategies to increase the effectiveness of current interventions. Includes recommendations and references. (Author abstract, modified)