Preliminary Effects of the ANZANSI Family Program on Caregiver Outcomes in Northern Ghana: A Pilot Study

Abstract

High levels of poverty and entrenched gender norms in Northern Ghana increase the risk of adolescent girls leaving school, engaging in child labor, and migrating unaccompanied. Caregivers play a vital role in reducing these risks, but few interventions focus on family-level support for girls’ education. The ANZANSI Family Program combines economic empowerment with family strengthening to address child labor. A pilot randomized clinical trial (n = 97) was conducted across 10 schools, assessing caregiver-reported outcomes at baseline, 9 months, and 15 months. Results from linear mixed-effects models showed significant improvements in caregiver educational support at both follow-ups. These preliminary findings suggest caregiver- focused, multi-component interventions are feasible in settings facing resource constraints and educational inequities and may enhance caregivers’ involvement in supporting girls’ education.