UNFPA and UNICEF are working towards accelerated abandonment of female genital mutilation/ cutting within 17 countries by 2012. The focus of this joint funding proposal is to leverage social dynamics towards abandonment within selected communities that practice FGM/C. The main strategic approach is to gain the support of an initial core group, which decides to abandon FGM/C and mobilizes a sufficient number of people to facilitate a tipping point and thereby create a rapid social shift of the cutting social convention norm. A core feature of implementation is fostering partnerships with government authorities both at decentralized and national levels, religious authorities and local religious leaders, the media, civil society organizations and the education and reproductive health sectors. Full paper in PDF format; Number of pages: 30p