Community leaders can make or break sexual and reproductive health and rights interventions. Local leaders, in particular religious leaders, are some of the most trusted public figures and the least likely to be considered corrupt by their communities. The trusted position held by this influential group means they are critical for engaging a community, and often the reference group and gatekeeper of local social norms.
When leaders have the right information and training, they can play a vital role in countering harmful beliefs, attitudes and norms in their communities – sometimes they can block community access altogether. When leaders are engaged effectively as part of sexual and reproductive health and rights programming, this supports outreach in marginalised communities and can help build allies who cascade accurate information and shift social norms on sexual and reproductive health and rights.
Read about how MSI’s programmes in West Africa engage a wide array of community leaders to expand access to contraception and support communities to live healthier lives:
