Agency for All published in Current Developments in Nutrition



Agency for All’s Dr. Francine Wood (GEH) and project director Dr. Rebecka Lundgren (GEH) co-authored "Social Norms: A Missing Ingredient of Programs Seeking to Foster Women’s Agency in Nutrition” in the September 2024 issue of Current Developments in Nutrition. The peer-reviewed article draws on insights from the USAID-funded Kulawa project in Niger, highlighting the implications of using social norms diagnosis tools to understand the contextual dynamics within child-feeding practices, informing intervention design. The commentary demonstrates how social norms influence agency and provides insights on how to improve this focus in social and behavior change programs.  

Global Health: Science and Practice publishes Agency for All commentary



“Using the 5C Vaccine Hesitancy Framework to Elucidate and Measure Contraceptive Acceptability in sub-Saharan Africa” was co-authored by Agency for All’s Dr. Lotus McDougal (GEH), Caroline Deignan (Matchboxology), Dr. Peter Kisaakye (Makerere University), Courtney McLarnon (GEH), Dr. Rebecka Lundgren (GEH), and Shannon Pryor (Save the Children). Informed by a 2023 literature review, this commentary represents a first step toward developing and testing a measure of contraceptive acceptability that can more precisely diagnose and support the achievement of self-determined reproductive goals and track progress within family planning programs. 

Agency for All shares new guidance on planning pause and reflect sessions

When Agency for All created internal guidelines for Pause and Reflect sessions, word spread to our colleagues working in other consortia, who expressed an interest in the information. We adapted the guide for broader use for any team looking for step-by-step guidance on how to conduct these sessions, which are purposefully structured to allow teams to step back from day-to-day work and identify areas for improvement. Pause and Reflect sessions can support a project’s aim to realize its commitment to continuous learning and adaptation, while supporting equitable partnerships, local leadership, and collaboration. This guide, “Planning Pause & Reflect Sessions: Practical Guidance for Your Project,” provides guidance to support a team to plan, facilitate, and document these sessions for any activity or process.  

New formative research on Husbands Schools adaptation in Niger 

Husbands Schools are a community-led initiative to enhance reproductive, maternal, and newborn and child health in West Africa. While evidence has shown that Husbands Schools have improved engagement with prenatal care, assisted deliveries, and family planning, there is little evidence that they successfully challenged entrenched gender norms and power dynamics. Agency for All’s formative research questions focused on exploring the meaning of gender equity, agency, and power in the Nigerien context. Learn how this study has laid the groundwork for a gender-transformative adaptation of the Husbands Schools model, which will be implemented and evaluated with local partners in the coming year. 

Agency for All supports grantees of Ouagadougou Partnership Research Agenda to develop strategic plans 

In August 2023, Agency for All began a two-year activity through the USAID West Africa Regional Office to aid in a capacity strengthening effort for the grantees of the Ouagadougou Partnership Research Agenda. Under this initiative, Agency for All is working to enhance the institutional capacity of grantees to generate new evidence and elevate leadership and expertise of these research institutions to bridge research-to-policy gaps. Results from the Baseline Capacity Assessment conducted by Agency for All identified gaps among grantees in resource mobilization, research utilization and advocacy, as well as in fostering strategic partnerships. 

New formative research on respectful maternity care in India

Agency for All is testing strategies to shift norms and practices that impact how pregnant women and newborns are treated by health providers. We are also working to increase knowledge of respectful maternity care among women, birth companions, and families, while shifting norms so that community members can advocate within facilities. This formative research was conducted to understand provider norms, social networks, and the experiences and perceptions of women and their families. The report summarizes both facility- and community-level findings, including that disrespect and abuse is acceptable under certain circumstances, and that prevailing norms discourage women and families from advocating for better care or raising grievances.