Key Social Norms Take-aways The ENGAGE program illustrates that social norms—particularly those around adolescent sexuality, contraception use, child marriage, and girls’ roles in decision-making—are deeply embedded in community beliefs and practices in Southern Malawi. While norms supporting child marriage are weakening, entrenched stigma remains around girls’ sexual activity and contraceptive use, especially among unmarried girls. ENGAGE has shown that empowering girls and building community support through trusted local leaders and civil society organizations can shift some of these harmful norms and foster more gender-equitable attitudes, although resistance and backlash still pose significant challenges.
Objectives The ENGAGE program aims to reduce child marriage by shifting gender-inequitable social norms and increasing girls’ agency and autonomy. The midline evaluation sought to understand how the program was being implemented and to assess emerging shifts in norms, attitudes, and behaviors regarding child marriage, sexual and reproductive health, and girls’ education.
Methods The midline evaluation used qualitative methods including in-depth interviews, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions conducted with 119 participants across four Traditional Authorities in Thyolo and Phalombe Districts, Malawi. Participants included ENGAGE girl leaders, civil society organization leaders, community stakeholders, and various reference groups involved in decisions about child marriage. Data collection occurred from November to December 2018 and focused on participants’ perceptions of girls’ lives and ENGAGE’s impact.
Intervention Details ENGAGE employs a multi-pronged approach involving (1) training and supporting adolescent girls to become leaders and advocates against child marriage, (2) building the capacity of local civil society organizations to influence community leaders and advocate for systemic change, and (3) conducting radio and SMS campaigns to shift public attitudes. Interventions include peer-based clubs, advocacy efforts, leadership training, and community engagement strategies targeting decision-makers and traditional authorities.
Results Findings show that child marriage remains an issue, driven by poverty, unintended pregnancy, and peer pressure. However, community attitudes are shifting, with greater support for girls’ education and delayed marriage. Initiation camps and harmful traditional practices are reportedly declining, and many participants credit ENGAGE for increased awareness and reduction in early marriage cases. Nevertheless, stigma against unmarried girls using contraception remains widespread. Girl leaders reported increased empowerment but also experienced harassment and backlash. CSO leaders and traditional authorities emerged as crucial allies for community acceptance and enforcement of by-laws discouraging child marriage.
Conclusions ENGAGE is making important strides in empowering girls and changing community attitudes toward child marriage and girls’ education. Yet, deep-rooted stigma around adolescent sexuality and contraceptive use persists and must be addressed more directly. The evaluation highlights the value of community-driven approaches and the importance of building supportive environments through trusted institutions to sustain norm change and improve outcomes for girls.