Paternar

Paternar is a first of its kind  digital and hybrid adaptation of Equimundo’s Programa P with a focus on Early Childhood Development and violence prevention (against women and children). It responds to the recurrent challenges that fatherhood in-person programs often face: recruitment and retention. 

With rising smartphone and internet access, digital modalities offer a solution. They improve access for time and resource constrained fathers, reduce implementation costs, and increase scalability. Through WhatsApp, male caregivers can engage in discussions and skill building activities connected with co-responsibility, positive discipline and conflict resolution. 

Developed with Fundación CINDE and Puddle, using human-centered design approaches, Paternar is a 10-week digital and hybrid support group for fathers (and their partners) of children ages 0–5. It promotes gender equitable attitudes, nurturing fatherhood, and violence prevention through four gamified levels and a complementary storybook.

The program pilot was evaluated in Colombia and found (see more details in the learning brief):

• Significant reduction in the use of violent discipline with children
• Significant increase in father’s engagement with children
• Digital engagement can influence behavior change (76% of fathers reported applying the skills shared in the program with their children)
• Effective recruitment (180 fathers in only 3 weeks) 
• High retention rates (82% of fathers stayed to the end!)