PROJECT
Leave No Women Behind: A Program to Support Adolescent Girls and Women in Rural Amhara Region, Ethiopia

Schooling is associated with a large number of positive outcomes, such as higher levels of reproductive health and HIV knowledge, later marriage, and more liberal gender attitudes.

The objective of this project is to empower adolescent girls and women by addressing their education, reproductive health, and livelihood needs.

In 2006 Population Council researchers conducted a baseline survey of over 3,000 girls and women aged 10–45 in six rural woredas (districts) of Ethiopia's Amhara region. The study demonstrated gains made in increasing access to education in Ethiopia. While only 4 percent of older women aged 40–45 had ever been to school, 62 percent of girls aged 10–19 had attended.

The baseline survey also highlighted the extent to which community attitudes are a barrier to improved reproductive health. For example, women who reported a community preference for high fertility and husband’s disapproval of family planning also reported low contraceptive use. The social norm that women deliver at home—especially their first child—increases the maternal risks faced by first-time mothers and undoubtedly contributes to the high rates of maternal mortality and morbidity in the region. Despite the fact that Amhara region has among the highest HIV prevalence rates in Ethiopia, there is widespread stigma against those living with HIV and a common perception that risk of infection is very low.

Based on the findings of the survey, the Council designed a program in which girls and women in rural areas of Amhara region are mobilized into separate groups led by five trained adult female mentors. Within these groups girls and women are given information on reproductive health, HIV and AIDS, life skills, sanitation, financial literacy, as well as advice and social support.

Girls aged 10–14 who are not in school attend alternative basic education classes near their homes. Attendees also are given reproductive health education, taking into consideration their age and experience. Five nonformal education centers—built largely through community contributions—are operational.

Some 378 married women aged 15–49 attend adult education sessions, reflecting more than 50 percent participation of eligible women in the community. In addition, 30 married women's clubs are serving 863 participants. Club participants have set up a savings program within their groups, with each participant saving 4–5 birr (about US$0.50) every month.

Program managers plan to expand the project to other communities in 2008.

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Location

Amhara Region, Ethiopia

Duration

January 2006–December 2008

Population Council researchers

Tekle-Ab Mekbib, Annabel Erulkar

Donor

United Nations Population Fund

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See Also

• Ethiopia
• Livelihoods
• Safe Spaces
• Schooling

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