“ICDP Ghana have incorporated the ICDP prorgramme into their trainings of caregivers. In all our various programmes’ activities we add the ICDP caregiving practices emphasizing the empathy based approach to care.” – – ICDP Ghana leader, Joyce Larnyoh.
Highlight from the ICDP Ghana report:
In 2025, ICDP Ghana consolidated its role as a programme-focused organisation delivering evidence-based, empathy-driven interventions to improve outcomes for children, caregivers, women, and adolescents. Through strategic partnerships with government institutions, international organisations, educational bodies, and community stakeholders, ICDP Ghana implemented and advanced programmes in maternal and child health, education, child protection, adolescent development, digital and vocational skills development, social and emotional learning (SEL), and STEM education.
Key initiatives such as SafeStart, D.A.R.E, O3, Think Equal Social and Emotional Learning, and the SeedScience Project reflect ICDP Ghana’s holistic approach to human development. These interventions combined direct service delivery with capacity building, systems strengthening, and national-level engagement, reaching thousands of direct and indirect beneficiaries across multiple regions.
Across all interventions, ICDP Ghana prioritised systems strengthening, community ownership, and national readiness, ensuring that programmes are not only impactful at the community level but also positioned for scalable and sustainable implementation.
SAFESTART – IMPROVING MATERNAL & EARLY CHILDHOOD HEALTH
SafeStart is a maternal and early childhood health initiative focused on early detection of pregnancy-related risks, improved access to quality maternal services, and strengthened caregiver–child wellbeing in underserved communities. The project delivers portable ultrasound diagnosis and maternal health education directly within rural and peri-urban communities in the Eastern Region, reducing barriers to care caused by distance and cost.
In 2025, SafeStart continued its implementation phase, building on activities initiated in 2024. The programme strengthened community-level access to antenatal services while reinforcing health-seeking behaviours through continuous engagement with caregivers, community leaders, and frontline health workers.
As part of this engagement, pregnant women, mothers and caregivers were guided using ICDP’s empathy-based approach, with the 8 guidelines forming the foundation for nurturing, responsive and supportive parenting practices. Key outcomes:
- Active service delivery across six communities: Kitase, Pokrom, Adamorobe, Konkonuru, Brekuso, and Ahwerase.
- Provision of portable ultrasound screenings integrated into routine antenatal check-ups.
- Ongoing community mobilisation to improve prenatal services to women
- 1,000+ pregnant women screened and supported.
- 100% referral for identified high-risk pregnancies to health facilities.
- Improved uptake of antenatal services and increased trust in community-based maternal care.
SafeStart has significantly reduced barriers to maternal health and strengthened early risk identification, contributing to healthier pregnancies and stronger foundations for post-natal care.