Tipping Point Project: Report of the baseline study findings from Bangladesh. CARE USA and icddr,b.

icddr,b, Bangladesh, in collaboration with CARE Bangladesh, is conducting an impact evaluation of the CARE Tipping Point initiative focused on reducing the rates of child early and forced marraige as well as increasing adolescent girls' agency and decision-making power. The evaluation is designed as a three-arm cluster Randomised Control Trial (RCT), using mixed methods to assess girls' agency, relations and the social norms restricting them. The Baseline Report published on the Tipping Point website in 2020, presents findings of this study. In program areas, the majority of girls have accepted gender-inequitable attitudes, including control by their family about their mobility and other aspects of their lives. Girls rarely negotiate marriage, since social norms related to girls’ voice and decision-making would lead to girls’ opinions being ignored. Girls’ interaction with boys outside of their family is also restricted and the result of violating this norm could be early marriage. The study recommends building the girls’ movement for collective action in favor of girls’ rights and community sensitisation to girls’ rights, both of which are important components of the Tipping Point Phase 2 package.