Behind the Buzz: What Really Drives Social Norms Change for Adolescent Girls and Young Women? – Global Evidence with Insights from India, Kenya and Nigeria

The Learning Collaboratives, in partnership with the Adolescent Youth Learning Agenda, hosted an interactive global webinar exploring what really drives social norms change to improve outcomes for adolescent girls and young women in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. We shared insights from a global scoping review and deep programmatic dives in Kenya, Nigeria, and India, spanning women’s economic empowerment, gender-based violence, child marriage, and sexual and reproductive health. After an opening session highlighting key findings, attendees were able to choose their own learning journey in one of four dynamic parallel discussions:

1. Learning from the Field – What it takes to shift norms with insights provided by practitioners working on entertainment media and champion interventions.
2. Hot-Button Topics: Ally or Obstacle? – Can men, mothers-in-law, and other influencers be both allies and obstacles?
3. Myth-Busting Social Norms – What the evidence really says.
4. Shifting Norms Ethically: Who Decides What Changes? – Ethics and effectiveness in norms programming.

Overview:

Country-Specific Deep Dive Reports:

1. Deep Dive: A Country-Specific Exploration of Evidence on Programming for Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Nigeria
2. Deep Dive: A Country-Specific Exploration of Evidence Addressing Gender Norms through Programming with Men and Boys in Kenya
3. Deep Dive: A Country-Specific Exploration of Evidence on Programming for Adolescent Girls and Young Women in India