Publication: Improving Behavioral Change Interventions: A Closer Look at 4Ps Family and Youth Development Sessions
Date
2023-04-10
ISSN
Published
2023-04-10
Author(s)
Rodriguez, Ruth
Revilla, MA. LAARNI
Abstract
An important component of the
Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), the flagship
conditional cash transfer (CCT) program of the Philippines,
is the delivery of complementary services such as Family
Development Sessions (FDS) and Youth Development Sessions
(YDS) to program beneficiaries. Prior to the COVID-19
pandemic, these were regular face-to-face sessions providing
practical information on topics such as parenting, early
childhood care, and disaster preparedness to adult
beneficiaries and guidance on adolescent dynamics to young
children in 4Ps households, with the overall aim of
promoting positive behavioral changes. This technical note
examines the process undertaken to enhance and align the
content of the FDS and YDS based on the 4Ps law that
mandates a maximum 7-year operational period, and it
discusses feedback and insights from beneficiaries and
implementers. Moreover, it considers the onset of the
COVID-19 pandemic and related lockdowns, which have led to
mobility restrictions among beneficiaries and implementers
since March 2020. Due to the pandemic, the delivery of FDS
have relied mostly on broadcast and social media platforms,
with options for small group neighborhood sessions in areas
with low rates of COVID-19 infections, while YDS have been
mostly suspended due to school closures nationwide, without
in-person gathering. For a more effective delivery of these
learning sessions, this policy note proposes key
recommendations on adapting to future shocks and emerging
beneficiary needs, developing strategic communications,
mobilizing resources, strengthening monitoring and
evaluation, and connecting to core values. In particular, it
proposes regular updating of module content to maintain
relevance and applicability, strengthening alternative modes
of program delivery to increase coverage, providing training
to facilitators to improve capacity, raising awareness to
increase program uptake, creating a clear monitoring and
evaluation system to track progress, leveraging the use of
technology, and providing post-program exit support to
sustain positive behavioral changes among beneficiaries.
Link to Data Set
Citation
“Rodriguez, Ruth; Revilla, MA. LAARNI. 2023. Improving Behavioral Change Interventions: A Closer Look at 4Ps Family and Youth Development Sessions. World Bank Social Protection Policy Note; 22. © World Bank, Washington, DC. http://hdl.handle.net/10986/39650 License: CC BY-NC 3.0 IGO.”