Moving beyond jargon: Operationalising gender-transformative approaches to end harmful practices against adolescents
Summary & Objectives
This study examines how gender-transformative approaches can be operationalised in practice to accelerate progress toward ending child marriage and other harmful practices among adolescents. Drawing on the UNFPA–UNICEF Gender-Transformative Accelerator, the paper documents how a structured, participatory process was used to help country offices and partners translate abstract gender-transformative concepts into concrete programme actions across diverse contexts. The objective is to describe the Accelerator’s design, implementation, adaptations, and early outcomes, and to identify practical lessons for advancing gender-transformative programming at scale
Findings
The study finds that many practitioners initially struggled to move beyond rhetorical commitment to gender-transformative approaches. The Accelerator helped address this gap by combining values clarification, critical reflection on power and norms, and structured action planning. Interactive and context-adapted methods increased staff and partner buy-in, improved understanding of gender and power dynamics, and enabled more critical assessment of existing programmes. Early signs of impact included increased demand for technical assistance, stronger integration of gender-transformative elements into child marriage and FGM programmes, improved institutional collaboration, and reported gains in girls’ agency, including confidence to delay marriage. However, challenges remained around resistance to norm change, uneven monitoring capacity, and limited local evidence to guide programme redesign
Recommendations
The study recommends embedding values clarification and participatory reflection as core components of gender-transformative programming rather than optional add-ons. It calls for sustained technical support to strengthen monitoring and evaluation of norm and power change, and for greater investment in locally grounded gender analysis and evidence generation. Adapting tools to linguistic and socio-cultural contexts, ensuring inclusive participation, and aligning implementation with national planning cycles are highlighted as essential for effectiveness and sustainability. Continued institutional commitment and partnerships with civil society and youth-led organisations are critical to scaling and sustaining impact
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