In Bangladesh, around 36 million adolescents face significant challenges such as poverty, limited access to education and healthcare, and harmful social norms, particularly affecting girls. These obstacles include child marriage, early childbearing, gender-based discrimination, and violence, both within and outside of relationships. There is low awareness and access to sexual and reproductive health information and services, with only a small percentage having comprehensive knowledge of HIV/AIDS.
Violence against women, including adolescents, is widespread and accepted, with high rates of physical and sexual violence reported. Mental health issues among adolescents are often overlooked due to stigma, with limited data available on their mental well-being. Factors such as early marriage, pregnancy, harassment, substance abuse, and exposure to disasters contribute to mental health challenges, particularly among girls. Girl Led Action (GLA) Project has been implemented since April 2023 in Chanpara, a suburb in Rupganj located close to Dhaka City. The project seeks to empower adolescent girls facing barriers to essential services such as contraception, sexual and reproductive health, mental health support, and counseling. These barriers stem from harmful gender norms, misconceptions, stigma, limited healthcare resources, and restricted movement. Proposed interventions aim to sensitize community members, family, and school authorities about the importance of safe and accessible menstrual health practices.
The goal is to provide readily available mental health services, counseling, and menstrual health management to address the urgent needs of adolescent girls and enhance their reproductive and menstrual health in the targeted community. The project aims to conduct an end-line review to assess its current status, document its impact, and offer recommendations for potential future implications. dRi has conducted an endline evaluation study to document the progress, processes, and lessons learned from the project through OECD/DAC Criteria (relevance, efficiency, effectiveness, impact and sustainability). The assessment will also explore the potential sustainability plan and evaluate the project’s design, scope, implementation status, and capacity to achieve objectives. Lessons learned, challenges, and best practices will be analyzed to inform the programming strategy in collaboration with the AAB team.
Serial No: 266
Theme: Child and Youth Development
Research Method: Mixed Method
Partner: ActionAid Bangladesh (AAB)
Starting Year: 2024
Study Area: Chanpara, a suburb in Rupganj located in Narayanganj district