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

●      Sensitizing/motivating the factory management on the business benefit of Mothers@Work and integrated ECCD intervention for nutrition outcome-based program in the workplace

●      Capacity building of the service providers and relevant staff on Breastfeeding Counselling, Lacta

●      ECCD interventions for Nutrition outcomes are integrated into the Mothers@Work and RMG Day-care based program for infants and young children (under two) in the 8 selected RMG factory sites.

●      Standardized ECCD guidelines/ operational plans, training manuals, IEC, and Monitoring tools adopted/ developed to mainstream ECCD interventions into the workplace-based daycare program.

●      Responsive caregiving practices improved the quality of the parenting program as a result of Mothers@work and integrated ECCD for nutrition outcome program interventions

●      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 center-based service providers, their supervisors (Health Workers, and Daycare caregivers), 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 is often seen that such provisions of child care are tagged as non-functional, which means a lack of supportive supervision, practices, and monitoring of ECCD interventions. Therefore, through this program, the ultimate goal would be to look over the ambiguity in the workplace-based child care system, develop skills and technical arrangements, work on a credible sustainability plan, and foster the development process of the children aged 0-24 months by providing ECCD supportive environment and Breast-Feeding promotion programs.

1. A total of 264 senior and mid-level management personnel from 8 factories have been trained and developed skills on maternal and child rights and nutritional needs at the workplace.
2. To raise awareness about the relevant technical issues of the program focusing on 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 corner had been established among the 8 factories and awareness was created among the mothers to breastfeed their children and encouraged them to pass quality time with their children during their work break.
4. A total of 78 members were trained as ‘Mother Support Group (MSG)’ in 8 factories, consisting of 10 members from factories’ senior level staff. The MSG group had been formed with 2 designated types of members namely mentors and mentees with an 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 cards as well as other necessary documents.
5. Guidelines, tools, and job aids focused on ECCD and nutrition have been developed and implemented at daycare centers of a total of 8 M@W-supported factories.
6. With technical support from UNICEF, a set of documents has 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 program period, regular monthly mothers’ meeting was conducted among the 8 factories. All mothers who attended were provided with counseling and technical information that would help them to develop their parenting skills.

8. Caregivers from all 8 factories attended the technical session on ECCD and 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 in a 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.

10. As a part of the program, World Breastfeeding Week was celebrated in a total of 8 factories. Parents were invited to attend the awareness program; the quiz was organized as a part of the program. All the participants were provided with a complementary Food Bag containing food from 7 food groups for the mothers to raise awareness on nutrition.

Overall, the Mothers@Work program 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 skills on breastfeeding, child nutrition, and ECCD relevant issues.