The document provides an overview of findings from the Gender and Adolescence: Global Evidence (GAGE) baseline study in Jordan. Some key findings include: - Participation in formal education is lower for older adolescents, especially Syrian refugees. Gender disparities favor girls' enrollment. - Learning outcomes are below grade level, with older adolescents and boys performing worse. Refugees have fewer years of schooling. - Access to vocational training is limited, especially for refugees. Such programs are seen as valuable but poorly targeted. - Most adolescents can access basic health services, but transportation barriers, discrimination, and costs pose challenges. Specialized care is difficult to access.

1. Leave No One Behind Agenda: Jordan Baseline
Findings
Tuesday 15th October 2019, Amman
Group of adolescents in Mafraq, Jordan @ Natalie Bertrams / GAGE 2019

2. GAGE Overview
Dr Nicola Jones, Amman, October 2019
©
Leave No One Behind Agenda: GAGE Baseline Findings in Jordan
12 year old Jordanian girl in Mafraq @ Natalie Bertrams / GAGE 2019

3. Please note that the photographs of
adolescents DO NOT capture GAGE research
participants and consent was gained from
their guardians for the photographs to be
used for GAGE communications purposes.
GAGE overview
12 year old Syrian girl in Mafraq @ Natalie Bertrams / GAGE 2019

4. Gender and Adolescence: Global Evidence (GAGE):
The largest longitudinal research programme on adolescents in the Global South (2015-2024)
By finding out ‘what works,’ for whom, where
and why, we can better support adolescent girls
and boys to maximise their capabilities now and
in the future.
We are following the largest cohort of adolescents in the Global South

5. Why adolescence?
An age of opportunity The demographic imperative
% total population 10-24 years in 2013
In Jordan, in 2015, 20%
of the population was
between 10 and 19.
1-in-5 of Jordan’s children,
3.2 million individuals, are
multidimensionally poor
ADOLESCENCE
10-19 years
Rapid neuro-
development
changes Growing
adoption of
adult-like
roles, e.g.
work, intimate
relationships
Increased
salience of
gender
norms in
daily lifeIncreased
interaction
with peers vs
parents
Psycho-
emotional
and self-
identity
changes
Physical and
reproductive
changes
Source: Accelerating adolescent girls’ education and empowerment:
G7 Whistler Meeting 2018 | May 2018

6. GAGE 3Cs Conceptual Framework

7. GAGE longitudinal research sample
7
Jordan 4000 Jordan 220 Jordan 200

8. Other SDG targets
(130)
Gender-related
targets (39)
Gender and
adolescent-related
targets (15)
SDGs targets by gender and ageSDGs targeting refugees and IDPs by gender and age
Other SDG…
Refugee / IDP
SDG targets (12)
Not Disaggregated
(6)
Gender /
Age… Gender
Disaggregated
(2)

9. How refugees and IDPs affect SDG delivery
• Refugees/IDPs are more vulnerable to fall into extreme poverty (1.1, 1.2)
• Refugees and some IDPs are not eligible for host-country social protection (1.3)
• Refugees/IDPs may not be reached by nutrition programmes (2.1, 2.2)
• Eligibility for health access if often tied to citizenship (3.8) yet refugees/IDPs are likely
to have higher mortality, morbidity and mental health outcomes (3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4)
• Refugees/IDPs often face barriers to WASH services (6.1, 6.2) which can
contribute to pollution, and impact the spreading of diseases (6.3, 3.4, 3.9)
• Refugee inflow leads to diversity and can foster innovation (9.5) yet refugees
may lack access to ICT (9.c)
• Refugees/IDPs are more likely to live in informal and unsafe areas (11.1)

10. Aims of Today
 To share GAGE key baseline findings and highlight the ways in which they
correspond to the SDG targets to which all state parties have committed
by 2030
 To discuss emerging findings with you as experts on different aspects of
the humanitarian and development policy and programming response to
the refugee influx in Jordan
 and especially on the ways in which they shape young people’s
development trajectories
 To reflect on entry-points for raising the visibility of adolescents’ gender-
and age-specific experiences and needs within humanitarian contexts
within key development milestones over the next year
 To get your guidance on priorities for future in-depth research

11. Thanks are due to the following:
 IRCKHF
 Mindset
 UNICEF Jordan
 NCFA
 Independent researchers
 DFID
 UNHCR

12. Adolescent-friendly services: access and quality
challenges
Prof Sarah Baird and Rana Samara
Amman, October 2019
Girls making crafts @Peter Biro

13. Gender:
10-12 Girls: 1,108
15-17 Girls: 1,006
10-12 Boys: 1,065
15-17 Boys: 922
Vulnerable Groups:
Disability: 417 (10%)
Child marriage: 190 (5%)
Nationality:
Syrian: 3,090
Jordanian: 642
Palestinian (Gaza Camp): 304
Other: 65
GAGE Jordan research sites and sample breakdown

14. Interpreting our findings
Quantitative data collected through face-to-face interviews with well-trained
enumerators (Mindset), almost always of the same gender of the respondent.
• When we present quantitative results and highlight differences across groups
these are always statistically significant (p<0.05)
Qualitative data was collected through face-to-face interviews with adolescents and
caregivers using interactive visual tools, focus group discussions, body mapping and
community and institutional mapping
• When we present quotes from qualitative data they are illustrative of the
broader findings, and not isolated examples.
Findings broadly represent vulnerable adolescents in our study areas.

15. Barriers to education
4.1 Ensure that all girls and boys
complete free, equitable and quality
primary and secondary education
leading to relevant and effective
learning outcomes
4.5 Eliminate gender disparities in
education…and ensure equal access for
vulnerable and people with disabilities
A boy in a classroom ©Herwig/UNICEF/2019

16. • 2018-2022 Education Sector
Strategic Plan
• Catch up programmes for those who
have dropped out of school
• The importance of curriculum reform
to address outdated learning, and
promote group-based approaches
including with regard to gender
equality
• Commitment to reducing violence in
schools through a Together for A
Safe Environment campaign
• Tackling transportation as an access
barrier
• National Youth Strategy 2019-2025
• 1 of 7 pillars focuses on Youth,
Education and Technology
Education
policy
commitments
1. Key progress
*Double shifts to allow Syrian + other
refugee adolescents esp. at primary level
*Almost universal primary school enrolment
Setting the stage - Education and Learning
2. Existing evidence and gaps
*Increase evidence and data on children/
adolescents with disabilities
3. Remaining challenges
*Increasing quality of learning
*Addressing poor outcomes for boys
*Increasing access to secondary school for
refugee populations in particular
*Implementing 2018 ESSP commitments

17. Participation in education is far lower for older teens (SDG 4.1)
Of GAGE’s 10-12-year-old cohort—
only 5% of girls and 7% of boys are
not enrolled in formal education.
GAGE’s 15-17-year-old cohort are
more likely to be excluded from
learning pathways.
 Only 54% are enrolled in
formal education
 Only 7% are enrolled in
non-formal education
 Only 11% are enrolled in
informal education
Older adolescents sometimes do not
know the way back ‘in’:
‘I wish they would create a school for
the drop-outs’.
(Older Syrian girl, host community)
Older adolescents can be
embarrassed about being over-
aged:
‘If he has to start now, then the
others are a lot younger than him.’
(Mother of an older Syrian boy)

18. Disparities in access are driven by displacement (SDG 4.5)
Older adolescents' enrolment in formal
education varies by nationality:
49%
65%
75%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
Syrian Palestinian Jordanian
Older adolescents’ grade attainment also
varies by nationality:
Jordanians have completed 10.1 years
Palestinians have completed 9.2 years
Syrians have completed 8.1 years
Older Syrian adolescents (31%) are more
likely than their Jordanian and Palestinian
peers to have been out of school for >3
months (~7%).
‘When we came here there weren’t
schools, so her education was delayed.’
(Father of a girl 2 years over grade, Zaatari)

19. Gender disparities in access are large and favour girls (SDG 4.1)
Of GAGE’s older
adolescents:
• 54% of boys are
enrolled
• 65% of unmarried
girls are enrolled
Boys are out of school due to child labour:
‘My parents even wanted me to pay for the whole house.’
(15-year-old Syrian boy, host community)
Boys are out of school because of non-engaging pedagogies.
‘Boys leave school in the 7th grade because they felt bored.’
(Older Jordanian boy)
Boys are out of school due to corporal punishment by teachers.
‘I dropped out of school because they hit us.’
(17-year-old Palestinian boy)

20. Girls face gendered barriers of their own (SDG 4.5)
‘They told me that I can write and
read, so no need for school.’
(Older girl, ITS)
Girls are removed due to restrictive gender norms and sexual harassment.
Married girls' access is especially limited—only 9% are enrolled.
‘I swear to God, her father married her, made her leave
eighth grade….her first day of 16 years.’ (Mother, Zaatari)

21. Rural location and disability preclude access (SDG 4.5)
78% 78%
72%
88%
44%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Host Zaatari Azraq Gaza
Camp
ITS
‘I went to school in Syria for two years and
then stopped due to transport problems …
Here, I have never been.’
(19-year-old Syrian girl with mobility impairment)
Adolescents with disabilities face limits
on their participation in education.
‘My aspiration is to go to school but I scarcely
leave the building… It is hard for my mother to
carry me down the stairs … I can only look at
the other children out the window.’
( 13-year-old Syrian girl with mobility impairment)
Across age groups—adolescents living in
ITS have the most limited access.

22. Proficiency in reading and maths mirror the global
learning crisis (SDG 4.1)
46%
40%
36%
38%
40%
42%
44%
46%
48%
Reading Maths
39%
41%
38%
39%
39%
40%
40%
41%
41%
42%
Reading Maths
55%
39%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
Reading Maths
All GAGE adolescents Younger adolescents Older adolescents
 Less than half of GAGE adolescents can read a short story written at the 2nd grade
level or do subtraction with borrowing.
 Older adolescents are further behind grade level than younger adolescents—
especially in maths.

23. Disparities in outcomes vary (SDG 4.1)
By gender—and
favour girls:
• 53% of girls can
read a short
story—versus
39% of boys
• 44% of girls can
subtract—
versus 35% of
boys
By nationality
and favour
Jordanians over
Syrians and
Palestinians:
(looking only at boys)
• 42% vs 40% vs
22% can read a
short story
• 44% vs 34% vs
28% can subtract
By disability
status and favour
those without
disabilities:
• 48% vs 33% can
read a short
story
• 41% vs 33% can
subtract
By location and
favour host
communities over
camps and ITS:
• 55% vs 36% vs
21% can read a
short story
• 45% vs. 34% vs
20% can subtract

24. Refugees’ participation in training is limited (SDG 4.3, 4.4)
Refugee girls’ access is limited by
parents—but appreciated.
‘I learned hairdressing at a vocational
training centre, Sanad, which is a project
from Denmark. It was very good, … If you
want to work, even if at home, it is
something sweet for you for yourself.’
(13-year-old Syrian girl, host community)
Refugee boys see training as a way to
become skilled—versus unskilled--
labourers, but are poorly targeted.
‘If you tell the young people in general that
there will be training in carpentry or a
craft, you will find more than half of people
in the camp come to you because of that.’
(Makani facilitator, ITS)
‘What adolescents need in the camp is craft
centres and vocational training. We don’t
have this here.’
(Palestinian father, Gaza Camp)

25. Barriers to
healthcare
3.8 Achieve universal health
coverage
3.7 Universal access to SRH
services
3.A Strengthen
implementation of WHO
framework on tobacco control
3.4… Promote mental health
and wellbeing
A girl sitting on the staircase ©Herwig/UNICEF/2019

26. •The National Health
Sector Strategy calls for
promoting healthy
lifestyles with a focus on
children and youth
groups.
•The National Mental
Health Policy calls for
developing child and
adolescent mental health
services and integrating
them into primary care.
Health policy
commitments
1. Key progress
*Public and private sectors are well developed and deliver high quality care.
*As of April 2019, Ministry of Health allows Syrians to access public facilities
at uninsured Jordanian rate and made all maternity/ childhood services free.
*UNRWA and UNHCR provide care to refugees living in camps.
*School children are screened for medical, dental + psychological problems.
Setting the stage – Health and Mental Health
2. Existing evidence and gaps
*There is limited information on the population of children/adolescents
with disabilities. See OECD 2018 Youth Wellbeing Policy Review
*Limited evidence on healthcare needs and services of adolescents
with disabilities
3. Remaining challenges
* Public services are stressed due to pop. growth resulting from both displacement and high fertility.
* The needs of Syrians outside of camps are not fully met.
*Chronic illness is common—and exacerbated by poverty.
* Tobacco use is amongst the highest in the world—for adults and young people
*Climbing rates of child marriage mean girls and babies are at risk; youth-friendly SRH services are scarce
* Stigma precludes the treatment of mental health conditions.

27. Coverage of essential services (SDG 3.8)
• Most adolescents have good access to health care—65% have sought care in the
last year.
• Over medicalization is an issue, with care sought for even minor symptoms.
• Other adolescents face barriers.
Transport is an
issue, especially for
those in remote
locations.
'When we are
wounded, we are
neglected… because
there are no clinics
nearby.’ (Father, ITS)
Syrians face discrimination.
‘My parents noticed that something was
wrong but the doctors were telling them
the opposite to what I told them… The
doctor told my parents that I was
mentally ill... that what I had was a
mental illness, not physical.’
(16-year old Syrian girl hospitalised with
severe fibrosis)
Married girls face
gendered
barriers.
‘They said I was I
liar…that I wasn’t
sick.’
(16-year-old
married girl, ITS)

28.  Private care is simply out of reach.
Out-of-pocket healthcare costs are high (SDG 3.8)
’Now we have to pay for the
transportation, then pay to have an
appointment to see the doctor, then
pay to buy the medication.’
(Syrian father, ITS)
 Health care costs – including for
transportation and medications – add
up for all vulnerable families – and
especially for refugee families.
‘When someone is ill…you have to pay
for taxi and medication and doctor
diagnosis. It affects us financially.’
(Jordanian mother)
‘UNHCR no longer supports us….They told
me, we do not cover the expense of these
operations. The cost of the operation in a
private hospital is 1600. Who has 1600?
All the money we got was going to rent.’
(Syrian mother, host community)
 Families may exhaust their resources
on health care- esp. girls who marry
before 16 years of age.

29. Specialist services are difficult to access (SDG 3.8)
 Adolescents with disabilities risk permanent
damage due to delayed care.
‘More complicated disuses such as the
chronic diseases, they don’t deal with
them perfectly. The chronic disease is
not emergency; it is not essential.’
(Makani faciliator, Azraq)
 ‘Non-emergencies’ are largely
ignored.
‘There is nothing to be done for my
daughter. We’ve been here for 3 years
and no one was able to help. The
commission doesn’t do plastic
surgeries.’
(Mother , Azraq)
‘The medical referrals are delayed. Its response is slow,
very slow. This is the problem. There is a boy has a
Curvature of the spine and he needs an operation which
costs 18,000 JOD. He is 12 years old. The Curvature of
the spine may cause heart problems. His father tried
more than 2 years but in vain. If the referrals are faster
than that or someone helps him with the half of the
operation's cost. ‘ (Makani facilitator, ITS)
 Adolescents with disabilities are less likely to
report good health (64% vs 84%).
 Adolescents with disabilities are more likely
to have been seriously ill in the last year
(23% vs 13%).

30. Substance use is a concern for boys (SDG 3.A)
Smoke cigarettes Smoke shisha
Older boys
Older Jordanian boys
Fathers do little to prevent their
sons from smoking—and often
fund their habits.
‘One of my neighbours told me
“your son smokes”. I told him,
"Let him smoke. What can I
do?”. He told me “smoking
causes cancer”. I told him
“cucumber is more carcinogenic
than smoking’.
(Father in a host community)

31. Mental ill-health (SDG 3.4)
Our survey included the General Health Questionnaire-12 and the Child and
Youth Resilience Measure-28 and found that most adolescents are not
psychologically distressed and are emotionally resilient:
However, one-third of adolescents had scores that demonstrated
emotional distress:
• Older girls are 11% more likely to be distressed than older boys
• Those in ITS (40%) are more distressed than those in host
communities (33%) and camps (29%)
• Nationality differences were relatively small

32. Suicide (SDG 3.4)
‘Those tawjihi kids have problems.
They go up on the bridge to commit
suicide because of the exams.’
(religious leader, host community)
‘The girl is 13 years old and was pulled out
of school. She ran away from home as she
did not want to get married so young. She
begged her family but they were not
persuaded. … Now she stands by the
window and thinks of suicide. She does not
leave the house. She has a psychological
illness’.
(15-year-old married Syrian girl, Amman)
GAGE participants reported that anxiety and depression related to academic failure,
poverty, child marriage, child labour, and intimate partner violence drive self-harm
and even suicide.
‘Because of depression and frustration.
…this leads to them thinking of
something more serious like committing
suicide .’ (father, Gaza camp)

33. Child marriage and links to maternal mortality (SDG 3.1)
 Nearly one-fifth of GAGE’s adolescent girls
are already married.
 It is estimated that a 10% reduction in child
marriage would translate into a 70%
reduction in maternal mortality.
 Policies aimed at reducing child marriage
may be inadvertently putting the youngest
mothers at risk—by denying them free
maternity care.

34. Access to family planning and adolescent fertility (SGD 3.7)
Married girls
Unmarried girls
 Less than half of married girls report recognizing a form
of contraception.
 Girls report pressure to conceive immediately after
marriage—and that their husbands refuse contraception.
‘I worked with some children who were pregnant and they
found that they’re pregnant in their like sixth month…because
these children they do not know that sexual relations makes
women pregnant.’
(Key informant, host community)
Recognise a form
of contraception
 Health care providers report that some married girls
do not even understand how pregnancy happens.
‘They told me that he would marry another one if I couldn’t
become pregnant’. (married 17-year-old Syrian girl)

35. Violence and exploitation: threats to adolescents
©
Jude Sajdi and Sara Al Heiwidi
Amman, October 2019
Syrian out-of-school girl © Nathalie Bertrams / GAGE 2019

36. Facing violence
PRESENTATION NAME AND DATE
Barriers to violence
prevention and response
services
5.2 Eliminate all forms of violence against
all women and girls in the public and
private spheres
5.3.1 Eliminate all harmful practices,
such as child, early and forced marriage
16.2 End all forms of violence,
exploitation and abuse against children,
including physical punishment by
caregivers
16.3 Promote the rule of law at national
level and ensure access to justice for all 12-year-old boy in Gaza Camp © Nathalie Bertrams / GAGE 2019

37. • National procedures aimed at
preventing and responding to
violence against women and
children 2019
• Manual for healthcare
providers on treating sexual
assault victims 2019.
• National Youth Strategy 2019-
2025
• 1 of 7 pillars focuses on Youth
and Community Security and
Peace
• Commitment to promote peace
and tackle roots of extremism
and violence including through
awareness raising
• Interagency SOPs for
prevention of and response to
GBV and child protection in
Syrian response
Violence
prevention and
response policy
commitments
1. Key progress
*National Framework for Family Protection Against Violence (updated 2016)
*2015 Juvenile Law which takes rehabilitative approach to children in conflict with the law
*National Family Violence Tracking System 2018 to harmonise case management and tracking
Setting the stage: Age- and gender-based violence
2. Existing evidence and gaps
*Violence against Children UNICEF study 2006
*Population and Family Health Survey 2017-2018 showed that
81% of children in Jordan aged between 1-14 years have been
subject to violent methods of discipline
*Robust on child marriage trends among refugees
3. Remaining challenges
*Promoting change in the national legislation around age of
marriage at 16 years
*Repeal of Penal Code Art. 62 on physical discipline of
children
*High rates of child marriage within refugee communities

38. Home is not a sanctuary (SDG 16.2)
Nearly half (49%) of GAGE adolescent admitted to experiencing violence at home.
37% of female caregivers of young adolescents admitted to using violent
discipline in the last month.
8% of female caregivers of young adolescents admitted to severely beating
their adolescent child in the last month—due to extreme stress levels.
Only 14% of adolescents who have experienced violence at home have ever spoken
to someone about their experiences.
‘I have no solution except beating them… it is like emptying and a release.’
(Syrian mother, host community)

39. Boys’ and girls’ risk factors differ (SDG 16.2)
When girls are beaten, it is for violating
gender norms.
‘My daughter once visited her friends without
telling me, and I beat her harshly. And there is
another girl in the area who had an affair with one
of the boys. If my daughter talked to her I would
beat my daughter. Because she might ruin my
daughter's future, the future that I hope for her.’
(Palestinian mother)
42% of boys’ mothers admitted to
using violent discipline—compared
to 31% of girls’ mothers.
‘I do not beat my daughter because this
will affect her but when I beat my son, he
will be better. Girls can hear the speech
but you must hit boys in order for them to
obey.’ (Syrian mother, host community)
Boys are less than half as likely to talk about violence at home as girls—due to norms
about masculinity and stoicism.
‘When the father hits his son, the son doesn’t tell anyone and he stays away and he feels sad.’
(Younger boy, Azraq)

40. Violent punishment by teachers is endemic (SDG 16.2.1)
There are significant differences between
groups:
• Boys are more at risk than girls (58% vs 25%)
• Teens in host communities (43%) are more at
risk than camps (40%) and ITS (28%)
Violence contributes to school drop out:
‘I dropped out of school because they hit us.’
(17-year-old Palestinian boy)
• Syrians report less corporal punishment
than Jordanians (39% vs 45%)
• Those living in Azraq report less violence
than those living in Zaatari (31% vs 43%)
Parents do not know where to turn for
help:
‘The administrator said…we will continue to
hit students at school.’
(Syrian mother, host community)
Overall, 41% of in-school adolescents have
experienced corporal punishment at school.
Under-reporting is significant.

41. Bullying is common—with some adolescents at greater risk (16.2)
‘They were calling him deaf, speechless, and unable to
walk. You know how are our community and their
perception about the disabled... So, I wanted to move to
another house.’
(Syrian mother of an 11-year-old boy who is deaf)
‘They beat us with the blade.’
(10-year-old Syrian boy, host community)
• Due to stigma, those with
disabilities are more at risk
than those without (53%
versus 40%).
• Younger adolescents are
more at risk than their
older peers (49% versus
33%).
• Boys are more at risk than
girls (46% versus 38%).
• Our qualitative work found
that Syrian boys are at the
highest risk of the most
extreme bullying.
‘Sometimes, he doesn’t tell me when boys hit him. Recently,
he tell me when boys hit him. I hit him to tell me what
happened with him.’ (mother, Gaza camp)

42. Sexual harassment is widespread—and girls often blamed (SDG 5.2)
 Adolescent girls and their parents reported that nearly all girls are at risk of sexual
harassment—mostly (but not always) verbal-- when they leave the house.
 Boys and young men stand around outside of girls’ schools as class is beginning
and ending—and follow girls to and from school.
 Girls are often blamed for harassment.
‘Our community is unmerciful … If anyone
violates any girls, the community thinks that
the girl likes to do that, and she wanted this
action.’
(15-year-old Syrian girl living in Zarqa)
‘He took my hand. I was shocked for two days
and I did not eat at that time and I kept crying.
After that, I never went out on my own. I just
walk in between houses and avoid being in the
street.’ (Older girl, Zaatari camp)
‘If you go to a girls’ school, you will find
young males there.’ (Palestinian father)
‘They whistle or say dirty words.’
(16-year-old girl, ITS)

43. Some girls are pushed into child marriage (SDG 5.3)
Of GAGE’s 15-17 year old girls,
18%—almost entirely Syrian—
were already married.
15 is considered a good age for
marriage—but girls as young as
12 marry.
‘I wish to get my daughter married
when she becomes 15 years old.’
(Palestinian mother, Gaza Camp)
Girls’ opinions about marriage
are not considered.
‘I will marry her even she does not
accept because you need to marry
your daughter with a man who has
principles and ethics. It is difficult.’
(Syrian father, host community)
For Syrians and Palestinians,
cousin marriage is the norm.
‘Our customs and traditions
stipulate that priority in marriage is
for the cousin.’
(17-year-old girl, Azraq)

44. Many married girls experience gender-based violence (SDG 5.2.1)
Some girls are abused by their in-laws.
‘His father tried to touch me as well. He
displayed his genitals to me. He would start
touching himself in front of me.’
(17-year-old married girl)
Girls are abused by their husbands.
‘He used to pour water in my ears, because
these things don’t leave any marks on the
outside.’
(19-year-old divorced girl, host community)
Divorce is a common outcome.
‘The longest marriage lasts for 1 month, 1
month and a half, 2 months. I mean, for me, I
have multiple cases that I know in this
region. The whole thing fails.’
(Makani KI, ITS)
Married girls may be abused by their own
families.
‘I lived with my mother-in-law. She would ask
my brother to beat me.’
(17-year-old Syrian girl, host community)

45. Boys are at higher risk than girls for child labour (SDG 16.2; 8.5)
 64% of older boys—and 11% of older girls—have worked for pay in the last year
 Due to poverty, even very young boys sometimes work for pay.
 Gender norms protect most girls from child labour, except in ITS where 46% of girls have
worked—because they can work with their parents.
‘One [child] is 10 years old and the other 11 years and the last
8 years… Their bodies became very thin from the exhaustion
when they started working, …the situation is very bad here…
My daughter, no, she didn’t work; I didn’t let her work, because
she is my only daughter, I will not torture her with work.‘
(Mother, Syrian, Mafraq)

46. Boys’ risks vary (SDG8.5; 16.3)
‘Sometimes, the people violate
these working children in the
middle of the street; they
stopped them in the roads; they
said to them that they don’t
have the right to work…that
they are the sons of the country
and they have the right to work
more than them… They also
face all kinds of harassment,
dogs, even sexual harassment.’
(Makani facilitator, Zaatari
camp)
Syrian boys are more likely to have worked for pay in
the last year than their Jordanian and Palestinian peers
(66% vs ~53%)
Syrian boys have averaged more days of work in
the last month than their peers (11 vs 9 days)
Adolescents in ITS are more likely to have worked
for pay—and work more hours per week—than
those in host communities and camps
Palestinian boys make the lowest hourly wage
(1.3 JOD) and the highest daily wage (8.6 JOD)
Syrian boys are more likely to face violence while they
are working.

47. GAGE Participatory Research
Agnieszka Malachowska and Sally Yousef
Amman, October 2019
Participatory photography exercise in Gza camp, Jordan © Agnieszka Malachowska/ GAGE 2019

48. GAGE longitudinal research sample
48
Lebanon
100
Jordan
200Ethiopia
200

49. GAGE Participatory Research Groups
Jordan (age 15-19)
• Jordanian and Palestinian adolescents
with hearing disabilities
• In school and out-of-school Jordanian
and Palestinian adolescents
• Married Syrian girls
• Working Syrian boys
Lebanon (age 15-19)
• In school and out-of-school Lebanese,
Palestinian, and Syrian adolescents
• Married Syrian and Lebanese girls or
at risk of early marriage
• Lebanese and Palestinian boys at risk
of joining armed forces

50. GAGE Participatory Research Tools
Physical Community Mapping
Virtual Space Mapping
Participatory Photography
Madame President
Intergenerational Trios

51. GAGE Participatory Research Tools
Community Mapping exercise

52. GAGE Participatory Research Tools
Virtual Mapping exercise

53. GAGE Participatory Research ToolsMadamePresident

54. GAGE Participatory Research Tools
IntergenerationalTrios
Jenan, a 17 year old Syrian refugee girl from Al-Mafraq, Jordan
My mother got married when she was 20 years old to my father who was 50 years old at the time. During her time, she was
considered too old to marry a younger man. She wanted to have a family and children before it became too late for her to find a
groom.

55. Participatory research and the process of negotiation
Married Girls
• Husbands
• In-laws
• Attendance
• Children
Syrian Girls in
ITS
+
• Security
• Shaweesh
(agricultural
labour
supervisor)
Adolescents
with disability
• Family
• Communication
• Trusted
translator
Boys
• Work
• Attendance
• Security

56. Observations from the field
Impact of
the
participatory
group
discussions
Adolescents
as young
peer
researchers
Photography
as an
expression
tool
Adolescents
Voice
Adolescents
critically
reflecting on
their realities
Adolescents
critically
reflecting on
changes in
their
communities
Adolescents
participating
in making
change
Pathways for
participation

57. Preliminary findings
Unique
findings
through
participatory
research
Differences in
adolescence
experiences
across
generations
Limited in-depth
intergenerational
communication
about
relationships,
intra-household
dynamics
Uneven shifts
in gendered
social norms
across
generations
Openness to
discuss impact
of political and
security
changes on
adolescents
Older boys’
limited access
to spaces in
conflict-
affected
contexts
Participatory
research space
is relatively
more important
& comfortable
for girls

58. Contact Us
Dr Nicola Jones, GAGE Director
n.jones@odi.org.uk
Agnieszka Malachowska,
MENA Programme Manager
a.malachowska@odi.org.uk
www.gage.odi.org
@GAGE_programme
GenderandAdolescence
About GAGE:
 Gender and Adolescence: Global Evidence
(GAGE) is a nine-year (2015-2024) mixed-
methods longitudinal research programme
focused on what works to support adolescent
girls’ and boys’ capabilities in the second
decade of life and beyond.
 We are following the lives of 18,000
adolescents in six focal countries in Africa,
Asia and the Middle East.