The 2022 Interagency Gender Working Group (IGWG) Plenary, “Promising Practices in Community-Led Gender Transformative Programming,” on May 26, 2022 explored promising practices in community-led gender transformative global health programming, particularly in the contexts of family planning, reproductive health, and gender-based violence prevention.

Many gender transformative programs engage communities, but they vary widely in approach, which can range from working with formal leaders to hosting group education sessions for community volunteers to mobilizing whole communities through peer outreach. Definitions of community mobilization and leadership also vary, as does the intensity of involvement by community members, and the power dynamics between communities and collaborators. Key components of successful community engagement for social and behavior change include communication that is empowering, horizontal (versus top down), and elevates the voices of traditionally excluded and marginalized community members.

This infographic highlights and synthesizes some of the key takeaways from the 2022 IGWG Plenary, suggesting promising practices for identifying community leaders and improving partnerships with community leaders and social movements in gender transformative programming. This resource intends to be a tool for program designers and implementers who wish to foster more community leadership and improve collaborations with community leaders within existing and future programs. The infographic also offers insights for program designers and implementers to strengthen programs that have already integrated elements of community mobilization and leadership.

Click on the image below to view the infographic.