Girls Are in Action (GAIA) Toolkit
The Girls Are in Action (GAIA) Toolkit is a practical, field-tested resource designed to empower adolescent girls aged 12–17 living in conflict-affected and displaced communities in northern Mozambique. Developed for use by humanitarian and development organisations, it provides structured guidance and ready-to-use materials for delivering safe, inclusive and impactful programmes that support girls’ wellbeing, protection and future opportunities.
At its core, the toolkit addresses the complex challenges adolescent girls face, such as limited access to education and services, gender-based violence (GBV), child marriage, and poor sexual and reproductive health (SRH) knowledge, by building their skills, confidence and resilience. It combines life skills education with psychosocial support, equipping girls with tools to make informed decisions, communicate effectively, and safeguard their health and rights.
The GAIA Toolkit takes a holistic, community-based approach. Alongside a 25-session curriculum for girls, it includes tailored sessions for adolescent mothers, caregivers, fathers, husbands and boys. This “whole community” model promotes shared responsibility for girls’ safety and wellbeing, challenging harmful norms and strengthening support systems around them.
Key thematic areas include building trust and self-esteem, socio-emotional learning, sexual and reproductive health, GBV prevention and response, and financial literacy and livelihoods. Sessions are interactive and participatory, using games, discussions, storytelling and practical activities to ensure engagement and learning, even in low-resource settings.
By the end of the programme, girls are better equipped to protect themselves, access services, stay in school, and plan for their futures. The toolkit also supports sustainability by encouraging peer networks, community engagement, and ongoing initiatives led by girls themselves, positioning them as confident agents of change in their communities.
