Effects of a Father Engagement Model in Rohingya Camps and Host Communities in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh: A Randomized Controlled Trial

This study, led by Global TIES for Children at New York University, evaluates a 6-month early childhood development (ECD) program for fathers of 0-3 year olds in the Rohingya camps and surrounding host communities in Cox’s Bazar District, Bangladesh. The program, part of the BRAC-led Humanitarian Play Lab initiative, focused on promoting fathers’ wellbeing, enhancing fathers’ relationships with their spouses and children, and fostering responsive caregiving practices. It was implemented as part of the Play to Learn project, a partnership of Sesame Workshop, BRAC, the International Rescue Committee (IRC), and Global TIES for Children (NYU-TIES), funded by the LEGO Foundation that is providing children affected by crisis with opportunities to learn, grow, and thrive. The program was administered to fathers through weekly home visits and monthly group sessions by father volunteers from the communities. We used a cluster-randomized trial (CRT) (N=2,002) to examine impacts of the program on 1) Rohingya and host community fathers’ mental health, parenting, and engagement with the child and family and 2) their 0-3 year old children’s development.