Facilitator's Manual for Discussions on Gender, Sexuality, and Family Planning in Rural Tanzania

This facilitator’s manual was developed by the C-Change project for discussion sessions with community-based mobilisers with Marie Stopes International in rural communities in Tanzania. It was produced to help facilitators lead a series of discussion exercises with young couples ages 18 to 35 to increase their use of modern contraception, improve couple communication about sex and family planning, and promote gender-equitable attitudes. The manual provides guidance for four sessions of discussions scheduled one week apart. Each session takes 3 to 4 hours and comprises a number of exercises. Two facilitators, one male and one female, are required to conduct these sessions. Each conducts the respective men-only and women-only exercises, and they jointly conduct exercises for mixed groups of men and women.

Below are the four sessions:

• Session 1 - Setting the stage and exploring the concept of gender: Establishes a relaxed atmosphere for free discussions, introduces the idea of gender as a social construct, and examines how it influences power dynamics in partner relationships.
• Session 2 - Strengthening demand for family planning and encouraging responsible parenthood: Discusses the relationship between family planning and meeting economic needs, examines responsible fatherhood and roles that men can play in support of contraception and family planning, and identifies strategies women can use to discuss contraception with their partners.
• Session 3 - Sex and Sexuality: Discusses sexual pleasure, consensual sex, and family planning, with the aim of breaking down inhibitions about discussing these topics.
• Session 4 - Communication between men and women about sexuality and contraception: Explores different types of communication, encourages non-violent communication about sex and family planning, and reinforces the idea that contraception enhances sexual pleasure