The role of the family is recognized and ensured by both the CRC and the ACRWC upon which countries have committed to provide the necessary support to families as a means to enrich and support the lives of children. The Plan of Action on the Family in Africa that was adopted by the AU member states in 2004 with the view to promote, formulate, implement and monitor policies, programmes and capacities for responding to the challenges facing the family … provides the needed commitment for action to support families in Africa.

However, the family situation in Africa is urgent. The continent is faced with a growing number of unconventional families such as child-headed families, single-parent families and grandparents-headed families which coupled with poverty demands swift action. We need extensive intervention in providing African families with the necessary tools, guidance and support in order to create a better environment for children. Evidence shows that children of better-educated mothers tend to start school on time, progress through the grades at expected rates and are more likely to complete primary school2. It is also known that the more aware family members are the stronger the family relationship, the less diseases thus the more productive and able to support themselves. Therefore, more practical interventions at both policy and community levels will reach parents as the core of the family with better knowledge and equip them with the necessary tools and means to raise responsible and protected children. There should also be national plans that take up the commitments made by African heads of states in 2004 in support to the family. Looking into the reality in Africa, more needs to be done in this regard.

The ACPF initiated the Skilful Parenting Program in collaboration with International Child Support with the overall goal of empowering parents/care givers in the family to create a safe environment where the wellbeing of children is ensured. The project is a continuation of the work done since October 2008, where various consultations in eastern and southern African countries confirmed the need for a regional program focusing on parents to alleviate the plight of children as well as ensure their overall wellbeing. Parents in Africa need support on how to empower and guide their children. Even more so, un-conventional care takers: child parents, grandparent parents, foster parents and so on need special focus and support on how to handle the parenting role that they have been faced with.

The program is now at the end of its development phase where it has gathered and come up with a draft framework for action. Members of the consultative team/network who were involved in the initial consultations will now come together to refine the draft framework for action to come up with a long-term regional program that would better address issues of parents in Africa.

International Symposium  
Main Objectives:

• Share milestones in the development of the parenting program (sharing reports/outcomes of inception phase and the experts meeting)
• To develop a framework for action for a long-term program on Skilful Parenting in Africa
• Launch of the “real life stories” book on parenting
• Ensure commitment to the network

Expected outputs

• A consensus on the draft Framework for Action and a plan of action for the years 2010 - 2012
• A Coordinating Committee that would lead the process
• Consensus on priority areas for the parent in Africa,
• Possible strategies and action points