Our Strategy

We are advocating for the creation of a platform for delivering simple social support to families during the early years of the child’s life from 0-5years. This will start in Nigeria and gradually grow across Africa.

Core aspects of our strategy include:

  • Championing the need for the mandatory inclusion of social welfare training to mid-wives in a train-the-trainer format

  • Provide an environment to check and collect data about each family’s progress through the child’s early years

  • Intervene in domestic environmental issues as a voice to help address conflict and encourage harmony

  • Provide access to nutritional support as donated by philanthropy and multi-lateral organisations

    Training for families to help them understand the effect of their behaviours and sentiments on the child

Creating an
Ecosystem of Help and Hope for Women & Children

Making the Case:

Building a Social Support Net for Children in Africa

Social welfare support in Africa, as in most developing countries, can be described as non-existent but according to UNICEF, Social Support Nets (SSNs) are a main policy tool to address poverty and vulnerability. They also show that there is substantial evidence demonstrating positive effects on children’s health and human capital.

In the 2017 study*1, the organisation was able to show evidence of the linkages between non-contributory SSNs and the experience of childhood emotional, physical and sexual violence in low- and middle-income countries.

At African Babies, in quantitative comparative studies undertaken at different intervals over the last 15 years we have made several observations and evidence point to the impact of the absence of a Social Support Net on the future outcomes of a child’s psychological and emotional development over the years.

*1 - Understanding the linkages between social safety nets and childhood violence: a review of the evidence from low- and middle-income countries

Observed common social issues during the child’s early years that can have lasting impact on a child’s future outcome:

    • Mothers’ emotional health and stress levels

    • Complications during pregnancy

    • Lack of awareness about the child’s development

    • Extreme poverty and access to nutritional support

    • Adequate support and education on the needs of children with special need

    • Social issues to include molestation, rape, sexual abuse

    • Lack of proper communication

    • Limited communication with the child in early years

    • Absence of empathy toward the child

    • Wars, violence and tragedies

    • Gender inequality or gender acceptance

    • Closed-minded reactions to social illnesses that are normally treatable

Observed outcomes in later lives have included:

    • Mothers’ emotional health and stress levels

    • Complications during pregnancy

    • Lack of awareness about the child’s development

    • Extreme poverty and access to nutritional support

    • Adequate support and education on the needs of children with special need

    • Social issues to include molestation, rape, sexual abuse

    • Lack of proper communication

    • Limited communication with the child in early years

    • Absence of empathy toward the child

    • Wars, violence and tragedies

    • Gender inequality or gender acceptance

    • Closed-minded reactions to social illnesses that are normally treatable

At African Babies we have observed the stark difference that a level of social support, training and care can make with children brought up in a more positive environment. These group of children have displayed a more positive outlook and satisfaction with life.