Core group spring conference May 2016

• Define and describe the SAA process – with a focus on the Reflection and Dialogue

• Discuss critical reflection and dialogue – what and why?

• A program example - theory of change and research finding

• Reflect on how SAA can help catalyze change • Summary

• A facilitated process through which individuals and communities explore and challenge the social norms and practices that shape their lives and health.

• Goal = Catalyze a community-owned change process • Facilitates critical reflection & dialogue Identify how

health and well-being are shaped by social norms • Offers opportunities to engage in problem solving

dialogue and envision alternatives • Individuals and communities challenge restrictive

norms and act together to create more equitable gender norms

What is the SAA Process?

1) Reflection, dialogue and exploration

2) Envisioning alternatives and challenging harmful norms

3) Community-led action for health and rights

Three Core Elements:

Community Action and Project Cycle + Ongoing Critical Reflection and

Dialogue

A space and facilitated dialogue that enables individuals and communities to: • Surface and reflect on norms and beliefs • Explore how norms may harm health and restrict rights • Discuss sensitive or previously “taboo” subjects • Question norms and envision alternatives • Challenge restrictive norms • Identify positive examples, e.g. role models • Act together to shift social norms

Staff: • Space to reflect on our own

attitudes & beliefs and how they affect our work

• Identify & manage own biases to ensure we don’t inadvertently reinforce stereotypes & power inequities

• Prepare for leading the challenging process of exploring & questioning deeply-held beliefs with the community

• NB. objective is self-reflection, not self-disclosure

Community: • Surface invisible social norms

which negatively influence health, restrict rights

• Create space to reflect and question discriminatory norms and understand the link with undesirable outcomes/ their consequences

• Supports envisioning of alternative norms and behaviors to catalyze change/ enact more equitable and healthier practices

• Identify influential or “entry points” in the community to support the change process

Approach: Catalyze ongoing community dialogue about gender, power relations, sexuality and family planning – SAA, core community dialogue approach

Dialogue was specifically aimed to:

• Normalize discourse about gender and family planning • Create safe spaces for reflection and learning (community

meetings + small groups) • Critically analyze how gender norms restrict FP • Provide role models for couple communication, equitable

gender norms and family planning

6/2/2016

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• Normalized discussion about gender and FP

• Public discourse precipitated conversations on FP in the household (couples discussion)

• Increased the perceived social acceptability of FP and benefits of open couple communication

• Created positive outcome expectations for couples communication and FP (stories from satisfied couples help dispel myths, role models)

• Legitimize men’s participation in communication and decision-making about FP positively influenced their approval of FP (predictor of FP use)

• Public dialogue may have increase the perceived social acceptability of FP and of the benefits of open couple communication about FP,

• And these normative changes at the community level may have enabled more equitable communication and decision making at the couple level.

• Interventions that encourages and supports dialogue and communication about gender norms and sexuality can shift gender relations and positively influence family planning use, especially for women.

• explore barriers related to underlying gender and social norms - address root causes, including rigid gender roles and social inequities

• engage the community to define their own problems and generate solutions – lead the change

• Build trust – skilled facilitation! • is centered around ongoing critical reflection and

dialogue – deeper probing to understand complex and sensitive norms

• Can be used for identifying and reaching the marginalized • Starts with ourselves

Our role is different. • We work with partners in the community, they drive the

change • We are “co-explorers” not teachers • We ask why and how • We don’t bring the answers • We pose questions & avoid delivering messages • We engage in ongoing reflection with ourselves