The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) will host more than 300 researchers, policymakers and development practitioners from across Anglophone West Africa for a conference on how social norms influence development policies and community wellbeing.
The fourth Social Norms Conference, scheduled for October 29 and 30 in Abuja, will examine how cultural beliefs, community expectations and institutional practices shape decisions and outcomes in health, education, gender equality, technology and governance.
The conference is being organised by the Anglophone West Africa Social Norms and Agency Learning Collaborative (AWALC) and hosted by the Solina Centre for International Development and Research (SCIDaR).
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja ahead of the event, SCIDaR Principal, Dr Raihanah Ibrahim, called for stronger policies and community-driven interventions to address social norms that hinder development and limit the choices and opportunities available to young people.
She said the conference would provide a platform for stakeholders to examine how social expectations influence public policies and development programmes, stressing the need for approaches that reflect the realities of local communities.
According to her, interventions that focus solely on providing information and services without considering the cultural and social factors influencing people’s behaviour may struggle to achieve lasting results.
She called for evidence-based policies that take account of changing social and economic conditions, as well as the expectations that shape individual and community decisions.
With the theme, “Norms in Shifting Landscapes: Powering Progress for People and Place,” the conference will bring together participants to discuss how social norms can be better integrated into development planning and implementation.
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