Culture Matters – Working with Communities and Faith-based Organizations

This new report—on working within cultures to foster stronger progress towards achieving international development goals and advancing human rights—provides insight into integrating cultural analysis in development programmes, especially in the critical areas of gender equity and equality and reproductive health and rights.

The culmination of two years' work with UNFPA field offices, headquarters staff and technical advisers, the report examines culturally sensitive programming during the past decade in a number of countries where UNFPA operates- Brazil, Ghana, Guatemala, India, Islamic Republic of Iran, Uganda and Yemen. It concludes that mainstreaming cultural analysis in programmes and strengthening key alliances and partnerships to mobilize communities results in increased ownership of the ICPD Programme of Action.