The Guinea-Bissau impact study demonstrates that frontline, community-led campaigns – combining caravans, training academies, dialogue, and media – can drive significant attitude change on FGM, even in regions where prevalence exceeds 90%. In Sonaco, reached by the Born Perfect Caravan, 94% of those exposed reported that it changed their mind about FGM, while around 9 in 10 said they do not believe FGM is necessary and would not cut their daughters. By contrast, in Mafanco – where no caravan took place – attitudes were consistently weaker, highlighting the direct impact of the intervention in accelerating change. These results highlight the power of locally delivered, culturally grounded approaches to challenge deeply embedded norms and accelerate movement towards abandonment.
Funded by the European Union and implemented with frontliners at the Community Against Harmful Practices (CNAPN), the campaign combined caravans, training academies, community dialogue, and media outreach across the Gabu region. The caravan in Sonaco drew nearly the entire community to a central space – 74% attended the caravan and most heard about it, who were met with, music, speeches, and a large stage with screened films, all exposing the truths about FGM.
The contrast with Mafanco is clear: while both communities had some exposure to broader anti-FGM messaging, people in Sonaco were significantly more likely to say the caravan influenced their views (57% vs 14%), showing the unique reach and influence of the Born Perfect Caravan.
The data shows stronger knowledge and belief shifts in Sonaco compared to Mafanco. Awareness that FGM is illegal reached 94% in Sonaco versus 81% in Mafanco, and recognition of the health risks was also higher (91% vs 80%). Most importantly, 90% in Sonaco said FGM is not necessary, compared to 77% in Mafanco, confirming that exposure to the caravan and community dialogue significantly strengthens rejection of the practice.At the same time, the study highlights the complex realities of working in high-prevalence contexts, where silence and denial remain major barriers. Despite prevalence rates above 90%, only 12% of respondents overall acknowledged that FGM is practised in their community. This contrast reinforces the importance of sustained, locally led engagement: where communities are actively and consistently reached by local campaigns, attitudes shift faster and more decisively – demonstrating a scalable pathway to ending FGM.
