Empowering Girls for Improved Health and Wellbeing in Two National Regions in Swaziland

Cebile Manzini-Henwood of SWAGAA will partner with Together for Girls and Population Council to adapt the 'The Girl Roster' tool, which has been used effectively in diverse settings to identify the most vulnerable girls within a community, and to test and implement several innovative approaches to working with girls in Swaziland. For nearly a decade, SWAGAA has worked with Crossroads International to implement Girls' Empowerment Clubs in schools to help improve gender equality by strengthening girls' social assets and self-efficacy related to sexual behavior, violence and HIV. This grant will allow SWAGAA to strengthen this work by identifying and involving the most vulnerable girls within and outside of schools, to begin working with boys to engage them with gender equality and transformative social norms, and by establishing health and multisectoral referral networks that help girls to overcome common barriers to accessing post violence and sexual and reproductive health services. Ultimately, the project will generate evidence on reaching and working with girls who are often excluded from development interventions to enhance their empowerment, safety and well-being.