Expanding Mothers@Work with integrated Early Child Care and Development (ECCD) intervention

1. Sensitizing/motivating the factory management on the business benefit of Mothers@Work and integrated ECCD intervention for nutrition outcome-based programme in the workplace
2. Capacity building of the service providers and relevant staff on Breastfeeding Counselling, Lacta

1. Mothers@WorkProgramme/interventions is implemented in 8 RMG factories within 2 months period covered by this PD.
2. ECCD interventions for Nutrition outcome is integrated into the Mothers@Work and RMG Day-care based programme for infant and young children (under-two) in the 8 selected RMG factory sites.

1. 8 selected RMG factory management successfully established breastfeeding room following standards and including equipment/tools and implemented 7minimum standards of maternity right and breastfeeding protection in the workplace.
2. Standardized ECCD guidelines/ operational plans, training manuals, IEC, Monitoring tools adopted/ developed to mainstream ECCD interventions into the workplace-based day care program.
3. Responsive caregiving practices improved the quality of parenting programme as result ofMothers@work and integrated ECCD for nutrition outcome programme interventions
4. Positive Impact on age appropriate development dimensions through integrated ECCD approach and improved parenting skills.

• Pregnant and lactating mothers,
• mothers of children aged 0-2 years working in the selected eight RMG factories
• day-care and health centre basedservice providers, their supervisors (Health Workers, Daycarecaregivers), Social Welfare, Compliance and HR staff and mid-senior level Managers.

Considering the current scenario of the workplace-based child care centers in the RMG sectors, it often seen that such provisions of child care are tagged as non-functional, which means lack of supportive supervision, practices and monitoring on ECCD interventions. Therefore, through this programme, ultimately goal would be to look over the ambiguity in the work place-based child care system, develop skills and technical arrangements, working on the credible sustainability plan and foster the development process of the children aged 0-24 months by providing ECCD supportive environment and Breast-Feeding promotion programmes.

1. A total of 264 senior and mid-level management personnel from 8 factories have been trained and developed skill on maternal and child rights and nutritional need at the workplace.
2. To raise awareness about the relevant technical issues of the programme focusing ECCD, all training participants were given campaign and awareness raising materials, focusing on breastfeeding practices and policies, breastfeeding benefits, legal issues to ensure the workers’ rights etc.
3. A well-functioning breastfeeding corners had been established among the 8 factories and awareness were created among the mothers to breastfeed their children and encouraged to pass quality time with their children during their work break.
4. Total 78 members were trained as ‘Mother Support Group (MSG)’ in 8 factories, consisting 10 members from factories senior level staff. The MSG group had been formed with 2 designated types of members namely mentor and mentees with and objective to provide on the spot technical support for the mothers of 0-3 years old children, pregnant women and as well as those who are in need. The MSG members were well equipped with their distinguished ID card and as well as other necessary documents.
5. Guidelines, tools, and job-aids focused on ECCD and nutrition have been developed and implemented at day care center of total 8 M@W supported factories.
6. With technical support from UNICEF, a set of documents have been developed as a part of ECD integration. The documents developed are-

• Early Learning and Development Standards (ELDS) based Early Child Care and Development (ECCD) Program Implementation Guideline for 0-3 years (at the Day-Care)
• Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the Early Child Care and Development (ECCD) intervention implementation for 0-3 years at the Day care center
• Early Child Care and Development (ECCD) Manual for parenting education

7. Throughout the programme period, regular monthly mothers meeting was conducted among the 8 factories. All mothers attended, were provided with counseling and technical information that would help them to develop their parenting skills.
8. Care givers from all 8 factories have attended the technical session on ECCD were given hands on training to conduct activities with the children to stimulate their physical and mental development.
9. Caregivers and MSGs were specially trained on breastfeeding position, breastmilk storing and expressing breastmilk. Mothers were given hands on training on how to express breast milk and how to store and feed them when .
10. As a part of the programme, World Breastfeeding Week were celebrated in total 8 factories. Parents were invited to attend the awareness programme, quiz were organized as a part of the programme. All the participants were provided with a complementary Food Bag containing food of 7 food groups for the mothers to raise awareness on nutrition.

Overall, Mothers@Work programme provided a very good opportunity to do the advocacy and skill development for maternal rights and benefits following 7 standards with the top, senior and mid-level management as well as directly come in contact with the working mothers and develop skill on breastfeeding, child nutrition and ECCD relevant issues.