The IRC developed a manual to help equip adolescent girls with key knowledge and skills to help them to mitigate, prevent and respond to gender-based violence.

The Girl Empower program aimed to equip adolescent girls with the skills and experiences necessary to make healthy, strategic life choices and to stay safe from sexual violence.

The IRC recognizes that with support and investment, adolescent girls can transform their lives and their communities. Working with girls instead of on behalf of girls, the IRC’s programs are driven and led by girls in a way that empowers them long into the future.

With the support of the David & Lucile Packard Foundation, the IRC piloted a new approach to increase access to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) care for adolescents in Goma, DRC. This report highlights the strategy developed to address foundational facility and community-level barriers that prevent adolescents from accessing and receiving quality SRH services.