Project Results from Masculinities, Faith and Peace in Nigeria

The Masculinities, Faith, and Peace (MFP) Project, supported by the Templeton Foundation, aims to reduce sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), increase healthy timing and spacing of pregnancies (HTSP), and improve inter-religious relationships. It does so by addressing social norms that shape inequitable gender relations and prevent the use of modern methods of family planning, in mixed Christian and Muslim communities in Plateau State, Nigeria. MFP is a research-lead project, implemented by the Institute for Reproductive Health in collaboration with Tearfund and two local partner organizations.

This endline brief summarizes findings from this cluster randomized controlled trial with 20 Christian and Muslim congregations in peri-urban and rural communities in Plateau State, Nigeria. These findings demonstrate several promising trends for improving modern family planning use, reducing intimate partner violence, promoting gender equality and positive masculinities, and improving social cohesion and interfaith dialogue.