This assessment aims to identify concrete actions the IRC can take to better respond to the needs of Syrian and Jordanian adolescent girls. The assessment objectives are: to explore how the day-to-day safety of adolescent girls in urban areas might be enhanced; to identify key physical, social and emotional needs and hopes for the future of adolescent girls; and to explore the obstacles and enablers that adolescent girls face in accessing services from organisations like the IRC. 

Based on the findings, the following recommendations were made to enable the IRC to better respond to the needs of Syrian and Jordanian adolescent girls.

Safety of Girls

  • Engage in community-based advocacy that is driven by Syrian girls to create dialogue on the issue of street harassment in communities.

Improving Access

  • Explore the possibility of extending centre working times to weekends, after school hours, and other times suitable for girls.
  • Explore the possibility of providing a transportation allowance or arranging pickup with IRC vehicles for girls who want to access activities.
  • Increase the reach of activities by conducting recreational activities and adolescent groups through CBOs.
  • Continue to build on existing mobile delivery of case management and counselling services, to ensure that more girls (especially survivors of GBV) can access services.
  • Regularly engage with caregivers of adolescent girls and other gatekeepers who have influence in the lives of girls.
  • Leverage opportunities to exemplify positive relationships between Syrians and Jordanians.
  • Ensure equitable opportunities for Syrian girls (of all tribal groups) and Jordanian girls to participate in WPE activities.
  • Provide more space for recreational activities to be driven by girls.
  • Ensure that adolescent girls are targeted more intentionally by awareness sessions on GBV.
  • Enhance information-sharing and coordination with other stakeholders.

Needs & Aspirations for the Future

  • Provide opportunities for girl-led identification and implementation of zero or low-cost initiatives that tackle their own areas of interest and issues in the community.
  • Upscale the adolescent girls groups in the WPE women’s centres by providing more opportunities for participating girls to meet and network with older female role models.
  • Leverage social media and entertainment to communicate key messages to girls that will enable them to access important information about GBV, health and other issues. 

Available documents & links