Delaying Early Pregnancy in Gaibandha District in Bangladesh

Donor: MOMODa FOUNDATION, Florida International University, USA

The Delaying Early Pregnancy in Gaibandha District project, implemented from January 2024 to February 2025 with support from MOMODa FOUNDATION and Florida International University, aims to empower unmarried adolescent girls aged 13–17 in rural Gaibandha by increasing awareness about sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). Through interactive community sessions held across 60 villages in Gaibandha Sadar and Shaghata, the project provided SRHR education using adolescent-friendly manuals and participatory learning approaches. Girls were encouraged to make informed decisions about their health and future, while parents, teachers, and community influencers were engaged to foster an environment supportive of delaying early marriage and pregnancy.

The project saw notable success in enhancing SRHR knowledge and promoting open dialogue in traditionally conservative communities. Youth-led discussions, peer learning, and locally trained adolescent leaders proved effective in building trust and community ownership. Despite challenges such as cultural resistance and infrastructure limitations, strategic mitigation through visual tools, parent orientations, and gender-sensitive materials helped overcome barriers. The project plans to scale its impact in 2025 through end-line assessments, toolkit development, advocacy with national bodies like DSHE and MoWCA, and dissemination efforts to institutionalize adolescent SRHR in education and community health frameworks.