Dadwise Initiative

Globally, there is a significant gap in support and education for young fathers when it comes to understanding and respecting their partners' sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). This lack of education can contribute to various issues including unintended pregnancies, gender inequality, and even maternal and child health problems. The Dadwise Initiative specifically aims to address this gap through empowerment workshops designed to educate young fathers on SRHR.

Worldwide, there are approximately 1.8 billion young people aged 10-24, making up the largest generation of adolescents in history. However, despite this significant demographic, young people often lack access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health education and services. In Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs), such as Tanzania, the challenges are even more pronounced. In Tanzania, for example, 27% of girls aged 15-19 have begun childbearing, and only 32% of young people aged 15-24 have comprehensive knowledge about HIV/AIDS.

These issues are further compounded by cultural norms, stigma, and economic barriers that limit access to SRHR information and services. For young fathers, the lack of targeted education and support can lead to a lack of understanding and respect for their partners' SRHR, thereby perpetuating gender inequality and limiting women's ability to exercise their reproductive rights.

The Dadwise Initiative aims to tackle these challenges by providing specialized workshops for young fathers. The workshops will be tailored to the needs of the local community and will focus on educating young fathers on the importance of SRHR, the challenges faced by young women in accessing SRHR information and services, and the role they can play in supporting their partners. The workshops will also aim to break down harmful cultural norms and stigma that can limit young fathers' understanding and support of SRHR.

By addressing the lack of education and support for young fathers, the Dadwise Initiative aims to empower young fathers to be active participants in supporting their partners' SRHR, thereby contributing to gender equality, improved maternal and child health outcomes, and overall better SRHR outcomes for young people. 

The scale of the problem is significant, with millions of young fathers lacking access to the necessary education and support. However, by starting at the community level and scaling up, the Dadwise Initiative aims to make a meaningful impact on the lives of young fathers and their partners, both in Tanzania and globally.

The Dadwise Initiative is a comprehensive program that provides educational and empowerment workshops specifically designed for young fathers. Our solution aims to support and educate young fathers on the importance of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) to better support their partners and foster healthy family relationships.

Here’s how the Dadwise Initiative works:

1. Workshop Development: Our team works with SRHR experts and community leaders to develop workshops that are culturally sensitive and tailored to meet the needs of young fathers in the community. These workshops focus on educating young fathers about SRHR, including family planning, maternal and child health, and the importance of gender equality.

2. Community Engagement: We reach out to communities to identify young fathers who would benefit from our program. This involves working with local organizations, community leaders, and healthcare providers to spread the word about our workshops.

3. Workshop Implementation: Once we have a group of young fathers ready to participate, we conduct the workshops in community centers or other suitable locations. The workshops are interactive and engaging, with the aim of creating a supportive environment where young fathers feel comfortable discussing SRHR and learning from each other.

4. Follow-up and Support: After the workshops, we provide ongoing support to the young fathers through follow-up sessions, access to SRHR resources, and connections to local health services. This ensures that they have the support they need to apply what they have learned in their lives.

Since January 2023, we have conducted 12 workshops, reaching approximately 650 young fathers. The feedback from the participants has been overwhelmingly positive, with many expressing that they feel more informed and empowered to support their partners’ SRHR.

Through the Dadwise Initiative, we are not only providing young fathers with the knowledge they need to support their partners but also fostering a community of support that can have a ripple effect throughout their communities. By empowering young fathers to be advocates for SRHR, we are contributing to healthier family relationships, improved maternal and child health outcomes, and ultimately, stronger communities.

The primary beneficiaries of the Dadwise Initiative are young fathers aged between 15 to 24, as they are often underserved and overlooked in programs addressing family health and relationships. These young fathers, particularly in Tanzania and similar communities globally, often lack the resources and education necessary to support their partners’ sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). 

Without this support, young mothers may face challenges in accessing family planning, maternal and child health services, and achieving gender equality within their relationships.

The Dadwise Initiative addresses the needs of these young fathers by providing them with the education and empowerment necessary to support their partners’ SRHR, therefore, positively impacting the lives of young mothers as well. By ensuring that young fathers understand the importance of family planning, maternal and child health, and gender equality, we are indirectly supporting young mothers in achieving better health outcomes and more equitable relationships.

Here are some of the ways our solution will impact the lives of young fathers and young mothers:

1. Improved Knowledge and Awareness: Our workshops provide young fathers with crucial information about SRHR, family planning, and gender equality, empowering them to make informed decisions and support their partners.

2. Strengthened Family Relationships: By fostering a supportive environment where young fathers can learn from each other and discuss SRHR openly, we are contributing to stronger family relationships. This support network is crucial for young fathers as they navigate the challenges of parenthood.

3. Better Health Outcomes: Our follow-up support and connections to local health services ensure that young fathers have the resources they need to support their partners’ health, ultimately leading to better maternal and child health outcomes.

4. Gender Equality: Through our workshops, we emphasize the importance of gender equality and the role that young fathers can play in supporting their partners’ rights. This is crucial for achieving better health outcomes for young mothers and fostering more equitable relationships.

Our team is uniquely positioned to deliver the Dadwise Initiative because we have a profound understanding and connection with the communities we serve. Our team leader has grown up in Tanzania and has firsthand experience with the cultural norms and societal challenges that young fathers face in supporting their partners' sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). This personal connection ensures that our solution is rooted in the lived experiences of the people we are aiming to help.

In addition to our team leader's direct experience, our team is comprised of individuals who have spent significant time working and engaging with young fathers and mothers in Tanzania and other similar communities globally. This proximity to our target population gives us unique insights into their needs and challenges and ensures that our solution is tailored to their specific context.

Our team is also committed to continuous engagement with the communities we serve to ensure that our solution is not only designed for them but also with them. We have established partnerships with local organizations and community leaders to facilitate ongoing dialogue with young fathers and mothers. This engagement helps us to understand their evolving needs and gather feedback on our workshops and other program components.

Our solution is meaningfully guided by the communities' input, ideas, and agendas. For example, we have incorporated feedback from previous workshops to enhance our curriculum and ensure that it is culturally relevant and responsive to the participants' needs. We also work closely with local health service providers to ensure that our participants have access to the resources and support they need.

Our team's proximity to the communities we serve, combined with our commitment to continuous engagement and community-led design, positions us well to deliver the Dadwise Initiative. We believe that by leveraging our unique insights and the communities' input, we can empower young fathers to support their partners' SRHR, thereby contributing to healthier family relationships, better health outcomes, and more equitable communities.

Since the inception of the Dadwise Initiative in January 2023, we have conducted a total of 12 workshops that reached approximately 650 young fathers and mothers. These workshops are designed to educate and empower these young fathers in supporting and respecting their partners' sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR). 

By providing these young fathers with the necessary knowledge and tools, we are not only directly impacting their lives but also indirectly benefiting their partners and children. The empowerment of young fathers plays a crucial role in promoting positive SRHR outcomes for young mothers as well, as it fosters a supportive environment where the SRHR needs of young women are respected and prioritized.

Therefore, our solution currently serves approximately 650 young fathers, along with their partners and children, bringing the total estimated number of people impacted to over 1,300 individuals. Our aim is to expand our reach and continue to increase the number of young fathers and families that benefit from our workshops and the positive SRHR outcomes that result from them.

Our solution, the Dadwise Initiative, is innovative because it addresses a critical yet often overlooked aspect of sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR) – the role and involvement of young fathers. While there are many programs and initiatives that focus on empowering and educating women and girls about their SRHR, there is a significant lack of resources and support specifically targeted towards young fathers.

The Dadwise Initiative is pioneering a new approach by implementing workshops that focus on educating and empowering young fathers to support and respect their partners' SRHR. Our workshops cover a range of topics, from understanding SRHR and its importance, to practical ways that young fathers can support their partners during pregnancy and childbirth, to fostering healthy and respectful relationships. By providing young fathers with the knowledge and tools they need to be active and supportive partners, we are helping to create a more supportive environment for young mothers, ultimately contributing to improved SRHR outcomes for all.

Our workshops also include a focus on gender equality and challenging harmful gender norms and stereotypes that can contribute to poor SRHR outcomes. By engaging young fathers in conversations about gender equality and the importance of respecting their partners' rights, we are helping to foster a culture of respect and equality that can have broader positive impacts in the community.

Our solution is also innovative in its use of technology. We leverage digital platforms to reach young fathers who may not be able to attend our workshops in person, ensuring that they can still access the valuable information and resources we provide. Our online platform also allows us to reach a wider audience and scale our impact.

Our impact goals for the Dadwise Initiative are:

Next year:

1. Reach and educate an additional 5,000 young fathers and mothers through our workshops.
2. Develop and launch an online platform to provide resources and support for young fathers who are unable to attend in-person workshops.
3. Establish partnerships with local community organizations to increase the reach and impact of our workshops.

Next five years:

1. Reach and educate over 120,000 young fathers  and mothers through our workshops and online platform.
2. Expand our workshops to other regions in Tanzania and eventually to other countries in East Africa.
3. Develop a comprehensive support program for young fathers that includes mentorship, resources, and support for career development and parenting.
4. Contribute to improved SRHR outcomes for young mothers and their partners in the communities we serve.
5. Advocate for the inclusion of young fathers in national and regional SRHR policies and programs.

To achieve these goals, we will:

1. Continue to develop and refine our workshop curriculum to ensure that it is culturally relevant and meets the needs of young fathers.
2. Leverage technology to reach more young fathers and provide them with the resources and support they need.
3. Build partnerships with local community organizations, government agencies, and other stakeholders to increase the reach and impact of our workshops.
4. Develop a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation system to track our impact and make data-driven decisions to improve our program.
5. Advocate for the inclusion of young fathers in SRHR policies and programs at the national and regional levels.

We are committed to achieving these impact goals and believe that by empowering young fathers, we can contribute to improved SRHR outcomes for young mothers and their partners, and ultimately create a more supportive and equitable environment for all.

The theory of change for the Dadwise Initiative is based on the understanding that empowering young fathers with knowledge and skills to support their partners' Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) will contribute to better outcomes for both the young fathers and their partners.

Activity:

1. Conduct empowerment workshops for young fathers and mothers, focusing on educating and supporting their partners' SRHR.

Immediate Output:

1. Increased knowledge and awareness among young fathers about the importance of supporting their partners' SRHR.
2. Improved skills and confidence among young fathers in supporting their partners' SRHR.

Short-term Outcome:

1. Young fathers actively support their partners' SRHR.
2. Improved relationships between young fathers and their partners.
3. Increased use of SRHR services and commodities by young mothers.

Long-term Outcome:

1. Improved SRHR outcomes for young mothers and their partners.
2. Improved overall health and well-being of young families.
3. Increased gender equality and women's empowerment in the communities we serve.

Evidence to support the theory of change:

1. Third-party research shows that engaging men in SRHR programs can lead to improved outcomes for women and their partners.
2. Data from our workshops shows that young fathers who participated in the program have increased knowledge and awareness about the importance of supporting their partners' SRHR.
3. Feedback from young fathers who participated in the program indicates that they feel more confident and skilled in supporting their partners' SRHR.

The Dadwise Initiative is comprised of a dedicated team working together to make our vision a reality. Here is the breakdown of our team:

• Full-time staff: 7
• Part-time staff: 3
• Contractors or other workers: 2

Our full-time staff works diligently on program development, workshop facilitation, and community outreach. The part-time staff primarily assists with workshop coordination and logistical support. The contractors or other workers include professionals such as graphic designers and videographers who contribute their expertise on a project basis. Together, we collaborate to empower young fathers and support young families in our community.

The Dadwise Initiative was established in January 2023. Since then, we have been actively working on our solution to empower young fathers and support their partners' sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). Over the past nine months, we have conducted twelve workshops and reached out to approximately 650 young fathers. Our team is constantly refining our workshop content and delivery methods to ensure that we are effectively meeting the needs of the young fathers and their families in our community.

Dadwise Initiative is committed to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusivity in all aspects of our work. We recognize the importance of these values in creating a supportive and empowering environment for young fathers and their families.

Diversity: Our leadership team and staff come from diverse backgrounds, bringing a range of perspectives and experiences that enrich our work. We strive to represent the communities we serve and ensure that our programs are culturally sensitive and relevant.

Equity: We are committed to providing equitable access to our workshops and resources. We recognize the systemic barriers that can prevent young fathers from accessing the support they need and work to address these barriers in our programs. This includes offering our workshops at convenient times and locations, providing transportation assistance when needed, and ensuring that our materials are accessible to all, regardless of their literacy levels or language preferences.

Inclusivity: We strive to create an inclusive environment in our workshops where all young fathers feel welcomed, respected, and valued. We actively seek feedback from participants to ensure that our programs are meeting their needs and addressing their concerns. We also work to build partnerships with other organizations that serve young fathers and their families to broaden the range of support available to them.

Our goal is to continually learn and improve our approach to diversity, equity, and inclusivity. We welcome feedback from our participants, partners, and the broader community to help us identify areas for improvement and implement changes that will make our programs even more effective and inclusive.

Our business model is focused on providing educational and empowering workshops to young fathers to support them in becoming positive role models and supporters of their partners' Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR).

Key Customers and Beneficiaries: Our primary customers are young fathers aged 15-24, with an additional focus on young mothers in the same age range. Our beneficiaries include the children of these young parents, as well as the broader community, which will benefit from stronger, more supportive family units.

Products and Services: Our main product is a series of workshops that cover a range of topics, including communication, parenting, and SRHR. These workshops are designed to be engaging and interactive, with a focus on practical skills that can be applied in everyday life. We also provide resources and support for young fathers outside of the workshop setting, such as online materials and a helpline for additional support.

Providing Products and Services: Our workshops are delivered in-person at locations that are convenient for young fathers, such as community centers and schools. We also utilize online platforms to reach young fathers who may be unable to attend in-person workshops. Our resources and helpline are accessible through our website and social media platforms.

Revenue Streams: Our primary revenue stream comes from grants and donations from individuals, foundations, and organizations that support our mission. We also receive funding from local government initiatives that focus on supporting young families. In the future, we plan to explore additional revenue streams, such as offering paid workshops for organizations that work with young fathers.

Impact: Our impact is measured by the number of young fathers reached through our workshops and resources, as well as the positive changes in their behavior and attitudes towards their partners' SRHR. We also measure the impact on young mothers and children, looking at indicators such as improved communication, stronger family relationships, and better support for young mothers' SRHR.

To achieve financial sustainability, our plan includes diversifying our revenue streams and establishing long-term partnerships that align with our mission.

1. Grants and Donations: Our primary revenue source is from grants and donations. We will continue to apply for relevant grants from foundations, governmental bodies, and international organizations that support youth empowerment and sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR). We will also actively engage with individual donors and run campaigns to secure sustained donations.

2. Partnerships and Collaborations: We plan to establish long-term partnerships with organizations and institutions that share our mission. These partnerships will provide us with financial support in exchange for our expertise and workshop modules. By collaborating with schools, youth clubs, and community centers, we can increase our reach and impact while also securing financial sustainability.

3. Service Contracts: We will explore service contracts with governmental bodies and NGOs that focus on youth development and SRHR. These contracts will allow us to deliver our workshops and resources as part of broader programs aimed at supporting young fathers and families.

4. Paid Workshops and Training: In addition to our free workshops, we plan to develop a series of paid workshops and training programs for organizations that work with young fathers. These workshops will be tailored to the specific needs of the organization and will provide us with an additional revenue stream.

5. Merchandise and Online Resources: We plan to develop and sell merchandise and online resources that align with our mission. This could include educational materials, parenting guides, and branded merchandise. The revenue generated from these sales will support our free workshops and resources for young fathers.

6. Sustainability Fund: We will establish a sustainability fund to support our operations in the long term. The fund will be built through a combination of donations, grants, and revenue generated from our paid services. The fund will be used to cover any gaps in funding and ensure that our programs can continue to run regardless of external financial pressures.

By diversifying our revenue streams and establishing long-term partnerships, we aim to create a sustainable financial model that supports our mission and allows us to continue providing valuable services to young fathers and their families. Our goal is to become a self-sustaining organization that can scale its impact and reach more young fathers and families across Tanzania and beyond.