As a member of the Grants team, my role involves supporting grantee partners in co-designing and implementing community-based programmes, with a focus on community engagement, Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL). This work allows me to observe and reflect on the real-life impact of our initiatives, particularly in areas such as gender equality and community transformation.
Recently, I had the opportunity to participate in the MEL Reflection Forum in Senegal. The forum offered a valuable platform for sharing experiences, learning from different contexts and countries, and enhancing the impact of our programs. What stood out most for me was the lively discussion about male involvement; how men decide to join the end FGM movement, the obstacles they face, and the strategies that promote their participation. Resources, cultural expectations, and community norms emerged as key factors shaping male engagement.
In my role as a Grants Field Officer, engaging with men has revealed some deeply insightful experiences for me. In Isiolo, for example, a boda boda rider’s wife (commercial bikers) was admitted to the hospital with birth complications linked to FGM. Because he is a member of a local boda boda riders’ SACCO, other members stepped in to help cover her hospital bill when neither family could afford it.
Experiencing the financial and emotional strain firsthand motivated these men to act. They declared that, since they personally know the cutters in their community, none of them would provide transport for cutting events, even if offered extra payment. This collective decision reflects a meaningful shift in attitude, where men recognize the tangible harms of FGM and commit to being agents of change. Similar examples emerged in other communities, highlighting that men are more likely to engage when the consequences of this form of violence are visible and personal.
These experiences highlight why men’s involvement is essential in driving lasting change. Engaging men as allies in gender-equality efforts amplifies the effectiveness of programmes, boosts community support, and ensures that gender-equality initiatives are comprehensive and inclusive. By raising awareness, encouraging dialogue, and demonstrating the real-world impact of gender inequalities, we can empower men to stand with women as champions.
Meaningful male involvement is essential to supporting social change norms, protecting girls and women, and building stronger, healthier communities. I hope that sharing these reflections inspires others to actively include men as allies in this transformative movement.
By John Ngare
