A Girl Can Dream : Analyzing Aspirations, Gender Norms, and Influencers Among Girls and Women in Mozambique

In Sub-Saharan Africa, multiple interrelated challenges hinder the potential of girls and young women. Girls and women are more likely to live in poverty than men, have less access to education and health services, and rarely benefit from productive economic opportunities. Restrictive social norms exacerbate material constraints by defining what is considered acceptable for girls and women to do or not do. Policies and programs aimed at empowering girls and women can help break the cycle of poverty and support this population in achieving their dreams. Recognizing that girls' and women are often influenced by their social environment, the research also interviews the people around them, to compare girls' aspirations and attitudes to their community's expectations and social norms, and to identify who in girls' circles of influence can be leveraged as an agent of change to support them in achieving their dreams. In recent years, the Government of Mozambique, development partners, local associations and other stakeholders have come together to accelerate progress on the girls' and women's empowerment agenda