South Africa

This page was developed in November 2024 with a collection of in-country GISP partners. It was designed to provide a snapshot of key policies, guidelines, stakeholders, resources, and more so that implementers, donors, and decision makers have a place to find out what has been done and who they can connect with to learn more as they plan and carry out parent and caregiver support interventions. If you have updated information that you wish to see reflected on this page, please contact info@support-parents.org.

Country Snapshots on Parent and Caregiver Support > South Africa

Population information

Enabling environment

  • The Children’s Act 38 of 2005 safeguards children’s rights to family and parental care, especially section 144.
  • The National Development Plan 2030 (2011) mentions the important role of parents, especially related to education and social protection.
  • Parenting support and capacity development are specifically mentioned in the National Integrated Early Childhood Development Policy 2015.
  • The National Curriculum Framework (NCF) and National Early Learning Standards for children from birth to four years are resources for training organizations and parents to enhance children’s learning and development. The NCF states that parents are an integral part and often the primary source of early learning and development for a young child and that parents need the required information, motivation, and support in this regard.
  • The National Child Care and Protection Policy was adopted in 2019. This policy outlines the intention of the government to work closely with civil society to deliver a comprehensive suite of care and protection services that respond to the needs of children and their families. Implementation of the policy is overseen by the Department of Social Development.
  • The National Plan of Action for Children 2019-2024 aims to mainstream children’s rights across government and drive collaboration with sectoral stakeholders and broader civil society.
  • The government’s 2021 Revised White Paper on Families outlines three strategic priorities to promote family well-being, strengthen family relationships, and support vulnerable families.
  • The government is drafting a National Strategy to Accelerate Action for Children (NSAAC), which provides a framework for strengthening existing programs for children and adolescents.
  • The South African Parenting Programme Implementors Network (SAPPIN) connects and coordinates partners to collaborate, learn from one another, and co-create solutions that benefit parents. It has more than 20 network member organizations.
  • The National Early Childhood Development Alliance (NECDA) is an early childhood development focused network composed of resource and training experts from the sector and located in South Africa. The network currently represents more than 120 member organizations.
  • In November 2024, the government made a pledge related to increasing parent and caregiver support and other themes during the Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children. It aims to:
    • Implement evidence-based parenting programmes in 52 Districts by 2027, building the capacity of parents to ensure that the home environment is safe for children, reducing incidences of child abuse, corporal punishment by parents and caregivers, reducing the levels of violence against children.
    • Investing in Early Childhood Development (ECD) to empower both the mother and the child on effective age- appropriate evidence-based programme for social behavioural change and to instill positive social norms and values in children, caregivers and communities by 2027.

PARENTING ACTORS

Note: GISP has neither reviewed nor is it endorsing any of the interventions below. They are included to showcase the diversity of actors supporting parents and to encourage collaboration and resource sharing. The interventions listed may no longer be active but can serve as examples or reference points.

Focused on Fathers

Implementing Organization
Program Description
Target Group

Count Africa

Hey Dad! is an online/offline app developed to provide dads with fun, affordable, and quick activities to do at home with their children.

Fathers of children of all ages

Mikhulu Child Development Trust

The “Time with Dad” program is an innovation of the book-sharing program whereby fathers attend weekly training sessions at their workplace or in their community and practice book-sharing techniques under the guidance of a trained facilitator. These tools help fathers to develop stronger bonds with their small children and impact their children’s development in the crucial early years.

Fathers of children ages 10 months to 6 years

Sesame Workshop

Takalani Sesame is a series of 20 five-minute, evidence-informed segments to encourage and support male caregivers’ involvement in secure and gender-fair play with their young children and to foster overall gender equality among children and caregivers. These segments have been translated into five South African languages.

Fathers of children under age 5

Sonke Gender Justice

MenCare is a global campaign that promotes men’s involvement in caregiving for gender equality and the betterment of the lives of men, women, and children. UNICEF has been in partnership with the National Department of Social Development and Sonke Gender Justice in strengthening the social welfare workforce in the roll-out of the MenCare program.

Fathers of children of all ages

Tales of Turning

Gender-based violence prevention projects use online and offline dialogue to engage men to promote positive parenting and to disrupt intergenerational cycles of trauma.

Fathers of children of all ages

USAPHO Foundation

The Fatherhood Programme empowers fathers and male caregivers to be positive role models who accept their responsibilities in their families and communities. There are four modules and the sessions are taught in groups.

Fathers of children of all ages

Focused on Adolescents

Implementing Organization
Program Description
Target Group

Clowns Without Borders South Africa

Sinovuyo Teens is an evidence-based and adaptable group-based parenting program for parents and their teenage children developed by Parenting for Lifelong Health. The program aims to prevent violence against children, improve developmental outcomes, and strengthen families. It also includes additional content to support teen sexual and reproductive health, gender transformation, and the prevention of HIV, sexual violence and intimate partner violence/gender-based violence. Parents and teens attend nine sessions together on a weekly basis focusing on topics such as one-on-one time, praise, conflict resolution, emotions, self-regulation, budgeting, and risk assessment.

Parents and teenagers ages 10 to 17

Clowns Without Borders South Africa

ParentApp is the first offline-accessible, open-source, evidence-based parenting app to be designed and rigorously tested in low-resource settings. It is designed to complement in-person program delivery and can be used as a self-led option or delivered through a hybrid human-digital approach. It was developed by Parenting for Lifelong Health.

Parents of children ages 10 to 17

Clowns Without Borders South Africa

ParentChat promotes playful parenting and prevents violence through online support groups. Program content includes text/audio messages, video messages, illustrated comics, and home activity assignments for parents to do with their children and is delivered via online text-messaging platforms such as WhatsApp, Viber, Signal, and Telegram. It was developed by Parenting for Lifelong Health.

Parents of children ages 2 to 17

Clowns Without Borders South Africa

ParentText is an open-source rule-based chatbot adopted from the Parenting for Lifelong Health suite of programs aimed to prevent violence against children.

Parents of children ages 2 to 17

UNICEF South Africa

Adolescent and young mothers peer mentor program takes a comprehensive approach to improving health and social outcomes for pregnant adolescent girls and young mothers. Trained young people are appointed to health centers and work specifically with adolescent and young mothers. UNICEF implements through local partner organizations.

Adolescent and young parents of newborns

USAPHO Foundation

The Teen Parenting program trains and equips teen parents with responsive caregiving and life skills so they can function well within their families and communities. The program is offered in schools and includes a weekend camp. There are 20 sessions.

Teen parents ages 14 to 23

Focused on Young Children

Implementing Organization
Program Description
Target Group

Clowns Without Borders South Africa

Sinovuyo Kids is an evidence-based and adaptable group-based parenting program for parents of young children, aimed at preventing violence against children, supporting child development, and improving child and parental well-being. It is was developed by Parenting for Lifelong Health. Adaptations are available for parents who use drugs and for children being reintegrated from institutional to family-based care. Parents attend weekly sessions in person on various topics.

Parents of children ages 2 to 9

Department of Social Development

The National Parenting Programme (NPP) was developed with support from UNICEF in 2007. The guideline covers a range of 11 topics, including health and nutrition, play, human rights, and child development. The NPP creates the awareness, knowledge and skills for parents and caregivers to support their children’s growth and development as they cover the holistic development of children.

Parents of children ages 0 to 5

Hope Worldwide South Africa

Caregiver Learning Through Play provides training and support for caregivers and early childhood development practitioners that builds their capacity to use play to help children learn and grow. The program includes a free online training course and a toolkit.

Parents of children ages 0 to 6

Mikhulu Child Development Trust

Dialogic book-sharing is an intervention that improves children’s language, cognitive, and social-emotional skills. Parents and caregivers are given training and practice in group sessions how to have stimulating interactions with their young children using wordless picture books.

Parents of children ages 10 months to 6 years

SAPPIN

ParentlineSA is a light touch parenting advice chatbot that can be accessed through any phone that has WhatsApp installed. Add +27878134290 as a contact and then type in “Hi” on WhatsApp to start the conversation. The chatbot covers topics  like child development, child behavior, nutrition, parental well-being, and health. The content is currently focused on young children, but content for older age groups will be added in 2025.

Parents of children ages 10 months to 6 years

UNICEF South Africa and Department of Basic Education

ECDmobi app equips parents with ideas to support their children’s learning through play. The age-appropriate activities are designed not only to heighten the development of children, but to help parents/caregivers engage meaningfully with their children while equipping them with knowledge and skills. The designed activities on the app are aligned with the National Curriculum Framework for children ages 0 to 4 years.

Parents of children ages 0 to 4

General Focus

Implementing Organization
Program Description
Target Group

Count Africa

The Family Maths Programme (FMP) was designed to get families learning mathematics together by engaging in activities that both young and old can enjoy together. It covers a wide range of concepts such as problem-solving strategies, logical reasoning challenges, games, and puzzles. The program is aligned with the Department of Basic Education’s curricula and goes beyond. The FMP bridges the gap between teachers and parents.

Parents and children in grades 7 and lower

Do More Foundation

The EAT LOVE PLAY TALK parent education program was developed for ECD principals, practitioners, and playgroup facilitators to engage in conversations and activities with parents on the themes of healthy eating, building loving relationships, playful learning, and language development. The program is delivered to parents monthly via a seven-session light-touch program using carefully designed playbooks, session guides, and resources that promote behavior change.

Parents of children under age 5

Johannesburg Parent and Child Counseling Centre

The Johannesburg Parent and Child Counseling Centre works toward improving the emotional health of children, adults, and families through therapy and assessments, as well as training and workshops.

Parents and children of all ages

SOS Children’s Villages

The Family Strengthening Programme supports parents and families with a wide range of tailored support, advice, and education to empower them with the resources they need to overcome their difficulties.

Parents and caregivers of children of all ages

Tales of Turning

Mothers’ Project works to strengthen mother-child bonds, community bonds, and links to resources. Sessions teach mothers how to build empathy in their children, engage children in educational activities, and parent more effectively.

Mothers of children of all ages

USAPHO Foundation

The Positive Parenting program equips parents and caregivers with parenting skills as part of preventative strategies in child protection. It is a ten-week program with four modules. Online parenting programs are also available.

Parents of children of all ages

resources

News, publications, and program materials from parenting actors

Direct resources for parents

 Data and evidence