MALE CHANGE AGENTS – A Strategy to

engage both genders in food and nutrition security

FSN RKSM Kampala 2016 Emmanuel Ssegawa, Concern Worldwide

Margaret McLoughlin, Mercy Corps

USAID Food for Peace Programs

RWANU PROGRAM (Southern Karamoja)

GHG Program (Northern Karamoja)

Reduce food insecurity among vulnerable households

Focus on reducing malnutrition in PLW and children under 5

BACKGROUND- KARAMOJA

.

• Conflict • Change in livelihood options • Increased pressure on women and children • Food insecurity

BACKGROUND CONT.

Programing Background

• Existing activities focused on the caregivers and quality care

• Mother Care Groups

• Capacity building of health system (facility staff, VHTs)

• Formative research outlined extent of male power and influence

• Food security negatively affected by: – unequal workload burden – unequal decision making – domestic violence limiting negotiating power of caregivers

• Need for an enabling environment for both men and women

Barriers to engaging men and women in joint activities

• Traditional beliefs • Resistance to messages

of behavior change

• Peer pressure • Resources

Theory of Change • Lessons from previous work on male engagement • Internal change before outreach • Maximizing synergy between activities for women and those for men • Strategy and a phased curriculum to guide training

Mother’s group provides buy-in and

shortlist

Local leaders endorse finalists to build community

support

Role Model Start Up 1

2

Consent & orientation ~4 Male Change Agents:100 HH

3

1. Training

2. Household level follow ups

3. Small peer group support

Male Change Agent Support

Male Change Agent

Outreach

Male Change Agent

Outreach

Mentees

Male Change Agent

Outreach

Mentees

Dialogues

Male Change Agent

Outreach

Mentees

Dialogues

Everyday Conversations

• Joint Male Change Agent sessions

• Joint care group sessions and targeting of husbands for messages (including kitchen garden training)

• Preparatory work for the care group with controversial topics (e.g. family planning)

• Messages reinforced through other platforms

Integration

• Designed to create a movement

• Can be embedded in local government structures with coaching (e.g. Male Action Groups)

• Value for impact • Easily adaptable to other

rural contexts • Additional elements: media

campaigns, community events, etc

Scalability

“The couple that works together to plant the fields

prospers more”

Thank you