Sports as a Game Changer. Innovative Approach to Male Engagement in SRHR and Early Childhood Development

Introduction

In many Ugandan communities, men are seen as household decision-makers, yet they remain among the least engaged in issues that directly shape family health and well-being. Studies show that male involvement in Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) and Early Childhood Development (ECD) remains limited, despite men’s central role in influencing health-seeking behaviours and resource allocation within families (UNFPA, 2017; WHO, 2018). Recognizing this persistent gap, Nascent RDO-U partnering with Netherlands’ International Child Development Initiatives, and with funding from Stichting Dioraphte, Weeshuis der Doopsgezinden in Haarlem and other donors, has introduced an innovative, culturally resonant strategy, using sports as a platform to engage, educate, and empower men as partners in promoting family health and positive parenting.

The Challenge: Low Male Involvement in Family Well-being and Care

Across Uganda’s rural communities, social norms often assign men leadership and financial responsibilities but exclude them from caregiving, giving health support and other domestic responsibilities. According to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS, 2019), only about 38% of men reported participating in maternal or child health decisions. This limited involvement contributes to delayed healthcare seeking, poor family planning uptake, and minimal paternal participation in early childhood care. Cultural perceptions that SRHR or childcare are a “women’s issue” further reinforce men’s discomfort in engaging in such discussions. As a result, families and communities miss out on the transformative benefits of shared decision-making and supportive parenting.

The Innovation: Football as a Male Transformative Tool

To bridge this gap, Nascent RDO-U has used a sports-based learning initiative in Bulamagi Sub County Iganga district, and has drawn over 152 men aged 18–45 for a community football tournament and traditional games. Branded the “SRHR Cup,” the event blended competition with education, and transformed the football field into a classroom for health, communication, and collaboration. Between matches, structured sessions facilitated by Village Health Teams (VHTs) and Nascent facilitators covered topics such as:

• The importance of male participation in SRHR and ECD.
  


• Access to family planning, HIV testing, and STI prevention services.
  


• Shared decision-making and positive masculinity.
  


• Personal stories from men supporting their partners through pregnancy and childcare.
  

The Impact: Changing Mindsets, Strengthening Families

• The initiative engaged 152 men in open discussions that challenged traditional gender norms and fostered new perspectives on partnership and caregiving. Post-event reflections revealed that men felt more confident supporting their partners and more informed about available SRHR services.
  


• Several participants emerged as male champions, committing to sustaining the conversation within their communities. Their growing influence is shifting local perceptions, showing that when men are informed and involved, families thrive.
  


• Men’s engagement has since extended beyond the football field. Fathers are increasingly participating in early learning activities, with a growing number accompanying their children to the community play hubs.
  


• Male support for maternal health has also improved, as more men willingly accompany their wives for antenatal visits and share in decision-making around childbirth. There is also growing openness to discuss SRHR issues, including topics once considered taboo for men, such as menstruation and women’s reproductive health needs. This shift signals deeper understanding, empathy, and partnership within households.
  

Why Sports?

Global research supports sports as a tool for social transformation. The United Nations Office on Sport for Development and Peace (UNOSDP, 2016) emphasizes that sports encourage teamwork, respect, and inclusion, key drivers of behavioural change. Similarly, UNICEF (2020) finds that sports-based learning dismantles gender stereotypes and creates safe spaces for open dialogue, especially among men and youth. In Uganda, sports is a major social activity that brings men of different ages together. By leveraging the popularity of football in Uganda, Nascent RDO-U turned a universal pastime into an entry point for conversations on family health, turning play into purpose.

The Way Forward

Building on this success, Nascent RDO-U plans to scale up the sports-for-development model across other districts, integrating traditional games and drama to reach younger audiences. Future activities will link men more closely to SRHR services and foster stronger family relationships.

As one facilitator noted, When men play together, they learn together, and that’s where real change begins.

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