Learning by doing: WFP applies the Social Norms Exploration Tool for improved food security and nutrition in the Gambia and Mauritania
25 OCTOBER 2024
As part of its activities under the Joint Programme on Gender Transformative Approaches for Food Security and Nutrition (JP GTA), WFP has been applying the Social Norms Exploration Tool (SNET) for norms-shifting interventions in food security and nutrition programmes through practical “learning by doing” capacity development and social norms diagnostic exercises in the West Africa region.
Two experts from Georgetown University’s Passages Project team that developed the SNET supported the exercises.
The first exercise was conducted in the Gambia in June 2024 where a team of WFP staff investigated the social and gender norms that influence the behaviours around decision-making on the use of household resources to adapt to climate change. The social norms diagnostic exercise findings are being used to inform WFP’s Rural Integrated Climate Adaptation and Resilience Building Project.
The second exercise took place in September 2024 in Mauritania, where the SNET was applied to explore behaviours around the nutritional practices of pregnant and breastfeeding women, and mothers with children aged 6–18 months. These findings will be used to inform a pilot programme on the prevention of malnutrition.
Both experiences brought together colleagues from WFP country offices in the region, including Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal and Sierra Leone, to learn how to use and apply the SNET for their own programmes and projects. Loïs Archimbaud, JP GTA Technical Advisory Committee member for FAO, and Mila Cantar, Regional Gender Advisor from WFP’s Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean, joined the team in Mauritania.
“Using the SNET is very important for us. If we understand the norms, we can develop better strategies and programmes to address some barriers that are preventing us from improving food security and nutrition,” said Buramajacob Mendy, head of WFP’s field office in Basse in the Gambia.
Participants learned more than just the SNET methodology. They also understood first-hand the importance of data collection and management tools. In addition, they experienced why it is key to carefully select a behaviour of interest that is linked specifically to project results, and to clearly identify the primary groups (i.e. those who engage in the behaviour) and the reference groups (i.e. those who influence that behaviour). Through these learnings they can maximize the usefulness of findings and adapt programmes accordingly.
“Personally, using the SNET has opened my eyes to a new way of doing gender analysis. The SNET methodology allows me to go deeper into understanding gender inequalities and their underlying causes. Describing the inequalities, gaps and barriers is fundamental, but understanding the ‘why’ brings another dimension which also helps me to get to know the people we work for in our projects,” said Elena Ganan, Gender Programme & Policy Officer at WFP.
Through these exercises, WFP is building a team of colleagues across different country offices who are learning with and from one another, and strengthening interagency collaboration and experience sharing within the Rome-based Agencies.
Image credit: © WFP / Mintou Correra
Contacts:
- Elena Ganan, JP GTA Technical Advisory Committee member for WFP: [email protected]
- [email protected]
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