A joint field visit was conducted from August 5–6, 2025, in the Debre Birhan area, specifically covering Cheki and Kotu areas. The visit was organized as part of the FGM/CM project, implemented through the collaboration of the Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) and the Ethiopian Orthodox Church Development and Inter-Church Aid Commission (EOC-DICAC).
The field visit aims to share EOTC DICAC’s experience in implementing FGM/CM initiatives with other NCA funded partner organizations, including (EMRDA, EECMY-DASSC, and OWDA).
FGM/CM Project, Experience Sharing Visit Highlights; Strong Community Engagement and Impact
Debre Birhan August 5–6, 2025
In a continued effort to eliminate Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and Child Marriage (CM), a joint field visit was conducted from August 5–6, 2025, in the Debre Birhan area, specifically covering Cheki and Kotu areas. The visit was organized as part of the FGM/CM project, implemented through the collaboration of the Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) and the Ethiopian Orthodox Church Development and Inter-Church Aid Commission (EOC-DICAC).
The field visit aims to share EOTC DICAC’s experience in implementing FGM/CM initiatives with other NCA funded partner organizations, including (EMRDA, EECMY-DASSC, and OWDA). The two-day visit also brought together key stakeholders including government representatives, Woreda Women and Children Affairs, community leaders, and beneficiaries. The visit also aimed to monitor project progress stakeholder engagement, and gather community-level insights and feedback.
Community discussions were held in two kebles (primary schools) located at Angolelana Tera and Cheki wordas, school, The sessions addressed various issues on the implementation of the FGM/CM project. Beneficiaries, religious leaders, and other stakeholders shared their lived experiences and reflected on how the project has impacted their communities. The sessions offered a valuable opportunity for NCA and EOC-DICAC to respond with feedback and encouragement.
The visit emphasized the value of direct engagement and participatory feedback in addressing harmful traditional practices. Through strong partnerships and community-driven approaches, the FGM/CM project continues to make strides in creating safe, empowered spaces for women and girls.
The visiting partners expressed strong appreciation for the project's community-centered approach and its effectiveness in creating safe and empowered spaces for women and girls. The experience-sharing visit also reinforced the importance of collaboration and participatory feedback in achieving lasting change.
As the project moves forward, partners remain committed to building on these successes and scaling up efforts to end FGM and child marriage in the Region and across target regions in Ethiopia.