Obligation to Protect and Empower Girls in Sudan (OPEG) 2022-2024 Obligation to Protect and Empower Girls in Sudan (OPEG) 2022-2024 The program is implemented in a total of 66 villages in Kassala, North Darfur and White Nile. The objective of the OPEG program is to reduce the level of female genital mutilation (FGM/c) and child and forced marriage (CEFM) as well as increase acceptance and understanding in the communities regarding gender equality and children's rights. This is done by raising awareness around FGM/c and CEFM, community appraisal and planning, literacy classes for women and young people and strengthening women's financial empowerment by increasing the conditions for micro-loans and income-generating activities (IGA). The focus is also on targeted contributions against influential change actors such as religious leaders and teachers, youth clubs for boys and girls, advocacy and strengthening the systems that protect children and young women. An essential part of the program is strengthening civil society to influence and drive change at the local and state levels. Programmet implementeras under 2022-2024  i totalt 66 byar i Kassala, North Darfur och White Nile. Målet med OPEG-programmet är att minska nivån av kvinnlig könsstympning (FGM/c) och barn- och tvångsäktenskap (CEFM) men också att öka acceptansen och förståelsen i byarna kring jämställdhet och barns rättigheter. Detta sker genom att öka medvetenheten kring FGM/c och CEFM, gemensam identifiering av problem och lösningar i byarna, läs-och skrivkurser för kvinnor och ungdomar, stärka kvinnors ekonomiska egenmakt genom att öka förutsättningarna för mikrolån och inkomstgenererande aktiviteter (IGA). Fokus läggs också på riktade insatser mot förändringsaktörer med inflytande i samhället såsom religiösa ledare och lärare, ungdomsklubbar för pojkar och flickor, påverkansarbete samt stärkande av de system som skyddar barn och unga kvinnor. En väsentlig del av programmet är att stärka civilsamhället för att påverka och driva förändring både på lokal och statlig nivå. Overall goal/impact: 
Vulnerable children and youth  in particular girls and young women  live in communities free from all forms of violence, traditional harmful practices and gender discrimination, and are able to take decisions on their own lives. 

Project purpose: 
Communities, civil society and government structures adopt positive social norms and laws to protect children's rights with a particular focus on tackling FGM and child marriage in Kassala, White Nile, and North Darfur. 

The project has the following outcomes: 
Outcome 1: Communities are empowered to bring about positive change in attitudes and behaviours on gender equality. (Outcome 1 focuses on building community capacities to combat FGM/C and CEFM as well as building girls and young womens agency including effective engagement of boys and men to bring about equality and end FGM/C and CEFM.) 
Outcome 2: Civil society has strengthened capacity to promote gender equality, social accountability and advocacy on gender equality to combat CEFM and FGM. (Outcome 2 aims at strengthening capacities (institutional & technical ) of Civil Society Organisations and supporting alliance building for sustained advocacy at all levels to promote gender equality and end FGM/C and CEFM
Outcome 3: Strengthened government systems and capacities to promote gender equality, prevention and protection from child marriage and FGM (CMPIS  system and strengthened child protection) There has not been any implementation or capacity building for the government since after the military coup, October, 2021.
 Outcome 4: Strategic interventions to social norms transformation are identified/ implemented