Using Human Centred Design to Engage Men and Boys in Ending Harmful Practices among the Kuria Community in Kenya: Lessons from the Power to You(th) Project

Migori County’s Kuria community continues to experience high levels of FGM and SGBV due to entrenched patriarchal norms and limited male engagement. This paper documents a Human Centred Design (HCD) pilot under the Power to You(th) Project (2023–2025) that engaged adolescent boys, young men and elders as change agents through two co‑created models: the Positive Masculinity Program and the Kuria Intergenerational Assembly. Reaching over 900 participants, the intervention led to improved attitudes and behaviours, including increased reporting of FGM, reduced stigma against uncut girls, stronger accountability and growing acceptance of gender‑equitable norms. The findings show that culturally grounded, participatory engagement of men can effectively challenge harmful practices, and that HCD is a viable and scalable approach for promoting gender equality in high‑prevalence contexts.

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