Scaling Up Early Childhood Development in Zambia: Round 3 Qualitative Assessment: Male Involvement

The project is implemented by Right to Care Zambia (RTC-Z) in partnership with Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH) and the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPHI). The SUpErCDZ project uses a trainer of trainer model, where community-based volunteers (CBVs), largely made up of Safe Motherhood Action Group (SMAG) members, are trained on the full ECD curriculum. Each CBV member trains and supervises the cadre of head mothers from their zone, who in turn train caregiver-child pairs during parenting group meetings. The project has piloted a male involvement strategy in five health facility catchment areas (HFCAs) using two approaches: mixed-gender parenting group meetings and male-only parenting group meetings. The mixed-gender approach involves inviting husbands/male partners to attend CBPG lessons with female caregivers, focusing on four specific lessons considered engaging and interactive. This approach was piloted in three HFCAs in Southern and Eastern Provinces, with implementation beginning in December 2020. The male-only approach involves forming male-only CBPGs, with a "head father" selected to facilitate group meetings and trained by CBVs. A supplemental four-lesson curriculum was developed for men, focusing on ECD stimulation, toy making, and innovative gardening. This approach was piloted in two HFCAs in Southern and Eastern Provinces, with implementation beginning in April 2021. This report assesses the successes and challenges of these groups from the perspectives of participating men and their head fathers. The objectives and evaluation questions for this qualitative data collection include assessing the degree to which the interventions were implemented according to the project plan, documenting adjustments made during the course of the project, and describing and documenting the perceptions of caregivers on parent groups and behavioral changes in parenting or mother support networks. The report aims to provide insights into the effectiveness of the male involvement strategy and identify areas for improvement. The findings from this report will inform the scaling up of the SUpErCDZ project and contribute to the development of evidence-based interventions for promoting male involvement in caregiving in Zambia. The SUpErCDZ project is being implemented in 15 HFCAs, with a focus on rural areas where access to ECD services is limited. The project aims to reach over 10,000 caregiver-child pairs and provide them with access to ECD services, including parenting group meetings, home visits, and referrals to health facilities. The project also aims to promote male involvement in caregiving through the male-only and mixed-gender parenting group meetings. The project has made significant progress in implementing the CBPG intervention, with over 2,000 caregiver-child pairs reached in the first six months. The project has also established a network of CBVs and head mothers who are trained to deliver the ECD curriculum and provide support to caregiver-child pairs. However, the project faces challenges in terms of reaching all target areas, maintaining fidelity to the project plan, and addressing the needs of caregivers and children. The report highlights the importance of male involvement in caregiving and the need for evidence-based interventions to promote this involvement. The findings from this report will inform the development of policies and programs to promote male involvement in caregiving in Zambia and contribute to the improvement of ECD services in the country.