The ANZANSI Family Program seeks to pilot test the feasibility of an innovative combination intervention – Family economic empowerment and Multiple Family Group (MFG) – amongst adolescent girls at risk of dropping out of school in Northern Ghana. In July, the team held a group meeting with all schools interested in participating in the study to give additional details about ANZANSI. Our implementation partner BasicNeeds, in collaboration with school administrators, invited eligible families from the 10 selected schools to an introductory meeting. Fifty families have already consented to participate in the study. It is worth noting that the research team at BasicNeeds strictly adhered to the health protocols to protect families from COVID-19 transmission. During meetings, masks were worn by all families, and the team also provided water, soap and paper towels for hand washing. To adhere to the Ghana government’s regulation on limiting public gatherings to no more than 100 people, and also to ensure social distancing, 10 families per school, that is 20 individuals (1 female adolescent and 1 caregiver per family), met at a time in a large classroom. Individuals were seated far apart from each other to ensure social distancing.
Textbooks on core subjects (English, Mathematics, Science and Social Studies) that will be provided to both the control and treatment groups as bolstered care, have been purchased. Our implementation partner BIBIR Ghana identified and trained facilitators who will conduct financial literacy training (FLT) and income generating activities (IGA). BasicNeeds is in the process of identifying and recruiting facilitators to deliver MFG sessions.
