On Saturday, 16 May 2026, the Association Burundaise pour le Développement, la Démocratie et les Droits Humains (AB3D), in collaboration with GaneshAID Consultancy Company Ltd as the financial partner of the FatherFirst initiative and with local health authorities, conducted a community field visit as part of the final phase of the project. The visit, held one month before project closure, focused on collecting testimonies, documenting impact stories, and capturing early evidence of behavioral change among participating fathers and families.
FatherFirst is a community-based pilot initiative implemented by AB3D with financial support from GaneshAID Consultancy Company Ltd. The project aims to strengthen fathers’ engagement in child health, immunization, and primary healthcare services in Burundi through a combination of community dialogue sessions, digital health reminders, and local leadership coaching.
Community engagement and testimonies
During the field visit, the AB3D team interacted with fathers, mothers, community leaders, and frontline health workers involved in the “Imiryango Circles” sessions. These participatory dialogue spaces have played a central role in the project by enabling fathers to reflect on their role in family health, challenge existing social norms, and adopt more active caregiving behaviors.
Participants shared testimonies indicating gradual but meaningful changes in attitudes and practices. Several fathers reported improved awareness of vaccination schedules and increased involvement in accompanying their children to health facilities. Health workers also observed better communication between couples regarding child health decisions, reflecting a shift toward more shared responsibility within households.
Digital innovation supporting behavior change
The field visit also reviewed the use of the “NudgeU” digital system, which delivers weekly health reminders and motivational voice messages in Kirundi through USSD and voice-based technology. Beneficiaries highlighted that these reminders helped reinforce key health messages, improve recall of vaccination dates, and encourage follow-through on health-seeking behaviors, particularly among fathers with limited access to smartphones or internet connectivity.
Perspectives from health authorities and partners
Local health authorities accompanying the visit emphasized the importance of engaging fathers as active partners in primary healthcare delivery. They noted that father-inclusive approaches contribute to improved attendance at immunization sessions and strengthen trust between families and health services.
GaneshAID Consultancy Company Ltd, as the financial partner of the initiative, continues to support AB3D in ensuring effective implementation, documentation, and learning from the pilot, with a view to informing future scale-up opportunities.
Learning, documentation, and next steps
As FatherFirst approaches completion, AB3D is consolidating testimonies, field observations, and visual documentation into a comprehensive learning and impact package. This will support the endline evaluation process and provide evidence-based recommendations for potential replication and expansion of the model in other communities across Burundi.
Conclusion
The FatherFirst initiative demonstrates how community dialogue, digital nudges, and local leadership can work together to gradually transform social norms and strengthen family health practices. Through its partnership with GaneshAID Consultancy Company Ltd and collaboration with local health structures, AB3D continues to promote inclusive, community-driven approaches that place fathers at the center of child health and wellbeing in Burundi.