CAMBRIDGE, MA, UNITED STATES, August 27, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Around 150 global leaders, including survivors of female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) and child marriage from 36 countries, will convene in Naivasha, Kenya, for the three-day Justice for Girls convening that kicks off on September 2nd, 2026. The international gathering will feature the launch of a catalytic new fund to resource the movement to end female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) and a movement-led five-year roadmap to accelerate efforts to end FGM/C worldwide.

Ahead of the major gathering and festival in Naivasha, the three-part series of events will begin on August 30 with Fashion for Change, a survivor- and African Queen-led runway event in Nairobi that will use fashion and storytelling to challenge the social norms that sustain FGM/C and center survivors as advocates, leaders and agents of change. Then on September 1, a high-level policy event in Nairobi will be co-hosted by the British High Commission and the Anti-FGM Board of Kenya, bringing together senior government representatives, diplomatic missions, multilateral organizations, funders, survivor leaders and civil society organizations. Discussions will focus on renewing political and financial commitments and strengthening collaboration across governments, communities and civil society.

The priorities and commitments that emerge from the Nairobi event will help shape the survivor- and community-led discussions that follow in Naivasha on September 2, where the convening will feature the launch of an unprecedented new pooled fund to support the global movement to end FGM/C and advance justice for girls. Seeded with a major commitment from Wallace Global Fund, a U.S.-based foundation that has supported work to end FGM/C for over 40 years, the catalytic fund seeks to raise $100 million to accelerate efforts to end FGM/C, particularly frontline and survivor-led work that has been chronically underfunded. Survivors and activists will shape the fund’s strategic direction and grantmaking decisions. Media may access an embargoed press release with additional details on the fund and its launch here when the embargo lifts Wednesday, September 2 at 11:00 AM (EAT).

“A growing global movement is determined to end FGM/C and advance justice for girls. Unfortunately, funding is not keeping pace with the movement’s tenacity, creativity, and resilience,”said Susan Gibbs, Wallace Global Fund’s senior advisor on women’s rights and FGM. “Wallace Global Fund will be announcing the launch of an unprecedented, pooled fund in Naivasha that will back movement-led strategies and solutions. By following the lead of survivors and frontline leaders, we can drive toward a tipping point of ridding the world of FGM/C and we can prevent more girls from being harmed.”

The Naivasha event will also feature the launch of “Unstoppable: Our Movement-led Collective Vision for Ending FGM/C”, a five-year roadmap co-created by a diverse coalition of survivors, grassroots organizations, funders, and policymakers. Developed in the months leading up to the convening, this roadmap explicitly recognizes the connection between FGM/C and child marriage, setting shared priorities for survivor leadership, narrative change, and cross-movement collaboration.

The convening comes at a critical juncture for the global movement. One year after the dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), U.S. foreign aid disbursements fell from $72 billion to $47 billion, while funding for thousands of development programs was cut. At the same time, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) reported that 20 of its 32 Development Assistance Committee members reduced funding for gender equality in 2021–2022, with further declines expected following major reductions by several donor governments.

Building on the legacy of the 2014 Girls Summit hosted by the UK government and UNICEF, the convening reflects a central lesson from the past decade: lasting progress depends on investing in the people leading change. Survivors and grassroots organizations will not simply attend — they will lead in shaping the agenda, priorities, and outcomes with support from coalitions such as the Global Platform for Action to End FGM/C and Girls Not Brides. Overall, this convening aims to strengthen partnerships and inspire renewed commitment to justice, protection, and freedom for women and girls worldwide.

MEDIA RESOURCES: Journalists can access the full press kit here, including key facts and statistics on FGM/C and child marriage, survivor and expert quotes, photos and additional background materials.

Sheena Vasani
Sahiyo
sheena@sahiyo.com
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