The project addresses community values, attitudes and behavior that perpetuate intimate partner violence (IPV), female genital mutilation (FGM) and sexual assault in a holistic instead of stand-alone approach. It combines three evidence-based gender-based violence (GBV) prevention models and approaches for an integrated approach to GBV prevention in the Maasai community in Kajiado County, Kenya. The approaches are:1) SASA (Kiswahili for “now”) to address GBV by challenging power dynamics between men and women, 2) Men as Partners (MAP) model to engage men as equal partners in promoting gender equality and sexual and reproductive health, and 3) Socio-ecological model (SEM) to address risk factors for GBV at all levels, from individual to societal. Champions are trained to conduct outreach using the SASA, MAP, and SEM approaches in the communities. These champions in turn mobilize communities through ambush theatre, marches, radio talk shows, and community dialogues on GBV prevention and social norms change. County and sub-county level GBV committees composed of stakeholders from different sectors including health department, gender department, and the police department, are also established and/or strengthened to ensure coordination between different departments and seamless referral mechanisms for GBV service delivery.
