Parenting Under Pressure: Adapting the positive parenting approach for young mothers (14–24 years) and their partners in Uganda’s refugee settlements

Countries: Uganda, South Sudan Source: Plan International Please refer to the attached file. Summary Between 2023 and 2025, Plan International Uganda implemented Parenting Under Pressure (PUP) as part of the Adolescent Girls in Crisis (AgiC) programme, funded by the Judith Neilson Foundation, Australian Aid and Plan International Australia. PUP is a four month, 17-session parenting programme for parents and caregivers of children aged 0–8. Due to the high incidence of early pregnancy and child marriage, it was adapted to be delivered to young mothers (14–24) and their male partners in the Pagirinya, Boroli and Ayilo refugee settlements and host communities in Adjumani and Yumbe Districts, Uganda. The programme was designed to equip young parents, many of whom are themselves adolescents, in navigating parenthood during displacement, poverty and, in some cases, while healing from sexual violence. The PUP aimed to equip participants with the knowledge, confidence and coping skills to nurture their children, manage stress and build healthier co-parenting relationships. By the end of 2025, 762 young mothers and male partners had participated in PUP (419 young mothers, 343 male partners). The male partners group includes a mix of men who are the fathers of the children, as well as men who are the partners of young mothers as step-fathers or caregivers. Endline monitoring shows that positive parenting practices among participants rose from a baseline of 16 percent to 56 percent. While among the male partners group, challenging gender norms rose from 21 percent at baseline, to 70 percent at endline, exceeding the 40 percent target by 175 percent. Qualitative evidence indicates that men who participated in the programme were increasingly engaging in childcare and domestic work, activities traditionally regarded as exclusively “women’s work.” By actively supporting their female partners in these roles, this shift reflects a positive move away from restrictive social norms and promotes more equitable gender roles within the household.
2026-08-07 12:03:25