Strengthening male engagement in early childhood development: A gender-inclusive approach in West Africa.

• In Event: Parental engagment in ECD

Proposal

Research has shown that over two-thirds of children under five in Sub-Saharan Africa are not achieving optimal cognitive and social-emotional development, with children under three being particularly vulnerable during this critical period of rapid brain growth. Achieving favorable developmental outcomes necessitates the provision of nurturing care, encompassing health, nutrition, safety and security, responsive caregiving, and early learning opportunities. Central to effective nurturing care is the maximization of caregiver interactions—both male and female—through varied daily experiences. Father’s involvement particularly in childcare is crucial for children to reach their potential. Research suggests that when fathers effectively bond with their babies from the very beginning of life, they are more likely to play a more active role in their children’s development, and will have better psychological health, self-esteem and life-satisfaction in the long-term (UNICEF, 2018). However, around 40 million children aged 3-4 years in 74 countries across the globe do not have their fathers engage in early learning activities with them; and fathers are struggling to play an active role in their children's early years. Like many other sub-Saharan countries, a study In Ghana found only about 30 percent of fathers actively participated in early childhood development (ECD) activities, indicating a significant gap in male involvement compared to mothers, who participate consistently (Antwi & Fomby, 2020). Catholic Relief Services (CRS) strengthens male’s active role in childcare through a partnership ECD program across Kenya, Malawi, Zambia, and Ghana with faith-based organizations and funding from the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation. CRS is implementing a three-year Early Childhood Development (ECD) project "Strengthening the Capacity of Women Religious in Early Childhood Development". This project adopts multi-dimensional approaches to address early childhood development challenges within communities, emphasizing the critical involvement of male caregivers. It seeks to tackle behaviors, cultural norms, health, social and economic barriers, as well as gender dynamics that often hinder fathers' participation in childcare with a goal of ensuring that children 0-3 years old living in the target project communities live in nurturing environments by 2024.
This paper presentation will focus on CRS’ program adaptation of the Nurturing Care Framework (NCF) to be more gender-inclusive, i.e., more male engagement and contextually relevant, focusing specifically on innovative strategies employed in Ghana. The presentation will share CRS’ study results on male engagement that assessed barriers and motivators for male involvement in Maternal and Child Health (MCH) and ECD. We will highlight the innovative gender-inclusive approaches and the positive outcomes, and discuss their potential for replication in many contexts, ultimately contributing to a more supportive environment for the holistic development of children under three.

Author

• Sheriff David Telly, Catholic Relief Services (CRS)