Key Social Norms Take-aways The MFF (Masculinité, Famille, et Foi) intervention illustrates that engaging faith leaders and faith communities is a powerful strategy for transforming social norms related to gender equality, family planning (FP), and intimate partner violence (IPV). The project shows that shifting norms is possible when communities are encouraged to reflect on and reinterpret religious teachings through a gender-equitable lens. Critical to this success is addressing the misalignment between individuals’ personal beliefs and perceived community norms—especially around male authority and women’s autonomy in FP and household decision-making.

Objectives This report synthesizes findings across baseline, midline, and endline data from the MFF intervention to assess the extent to which it contributed to norm and behavior change related to FP use, gender roles, and IPV among newly married couples (NMCs) and first-time parents (FTPs) in Kinshasa, DRC. It also identifies lessons learned for scale-up and broader application.

Methods The evaluation employed a longitudinal, mixed-methods, quasi-experimental design with data collected through surveys, in-depth interviews, ethnographies, and diffusion surveys across intervention and comparison groups. Social norms were assessed through measures of injunctive norms (what is considered acceptable), descriptive norms (what is typical), and the influence of reference groups (who matters for norm enforcement). The project also used the Social Norms Exploration Tool (SNET) in formative research.

Intervention Details MFF is a gender-transformative, faith-based intervention adapted from Tearfund’s Transforming Masculinities model. It included participatory workshops with faith leaders, community dialogues with young couples led by trained gender champions, public testimonies, sermons, and referral linkages to FP and GBV services. The intervention targeted normative barriers to healthy timing and spacing of pregnancy, IPV reduction, and shared decision-making.

Results The intervention led to increased modern FP use, more equitable gender attitudes, enhanced communication between partners, and reduced acceptance of IPV. Shifts were especially strong in congregations with highly engaged religious leaders. However, some normative resistance remained, particularly around men’s decision-making dominance and mixed messaging from leaders not fully aligned with the intervention.

Conclusions MFF demonstrates that faith-based strategies can effectively shift deeply rooted gender and reproductive health norms. Success hinges on aligning religious teachings with rights-based, equitable messaging and fostering consistent community dialogue. For sustained impact, deeper engagement with male authority structures and expansion of norm diffusion strategies is essential.