Preliminary Effects of the ANZANSI Family Program on Caregiver Outcomes in Northern Ghana: A Pilot Study

High levels of poverty and entrenched gender norms in Northern Ghana increase the risk of adolescent girls leaving school, engaging in child labor, and migrating unaccompanied. Caregivers play a vital role in reducing these risks, but few interventions focus on family-level support for girls’ education. The ANZANSI Family Program combines economic empowerment with family strengthening to address child labor. A pilot randomized clinical trial (n = 97) was conducted across 10 schools, assessing caregiver-reported outcomes at baseline, 9 months, and 15 months. Results from linear mixed-effects models showed significant improvements in caregiver educational support at both follow-ups. These preliminary findings suggest caregiver-focused, multi-component interventions are feasible in settings facing resource constraints and educational inequities and may enhance caregivers’ involvement in supporting girls’ education.