Boys Engage: What works to effectively engage boys in transforming gender norms

Save the Children UK together with the London School of Economics have undertaken research to create an evidence base on what works to effectively engage with boys across our gender equality and girls’ empowerment programmes. The study will be used to guide programme developers in designing evidence-based approaches for boys’ engagement to complement our girls’ empowerment work. Despite decades of progress, gender equality is ‘off track’ globally, with deep rooted patriarchal norms and power imbalances limiting opportunities for women and girls. Changing unequal power dynamics and gender norms requires further attention and study from international humanitarian and development organisations seeking to improve the lives and positions of women and girls.

True transformation requires engaging not only women and girls but also men and boys in challenging harmful gender norms. Without their active involvement, efforts risk reinforcing inequalities rather than dismantling them. Engaging boys as allies for girls, from childhood to adolescence, is a critical to complement gender equality and empowerment programmes for girls. Using a qualitative research method, combining a semi-systematic literature review with semi-structured expert interviews to identify effective strategies for engaging boys in gender equality initiatives. This approach synthesised theoretical and practical insights, capturing best practices, challenges, and lessons learned from past interventions.

The study explores in particular:
• What motivates boys to engage in transforming gender norms?
• What do they expect or need from a project to make it attractive?
• How can organisations engage boys who are currently not interested in their projects?
• And what activities would best address this?