The current study's process evaluation indicates recruitment over a 1-month period and ineffective communication strategy reduced the reach of the programme (process evaluation due for publication in 20171).
UNICEF's participation in the programme has added more than 3,000 schools to the initial reach of the programme.
Experience of the programme by women's group participants and leaders was assessed through a structured questionnaire and process measures assessed the delivery and reach of the programme.
The participation of learners through student representative councils and school clubs such as the Girls and Boys Education Movement (GEM/BEM) clubs will be critical to expand the reach of the programme.
Making a difference with community-based treatment To extend the reach of the programme to the rural population, an outreach programme addressing acute malnutrition at the community level was launched in November 2012.
Measured interventions Asha Mohamed's nine-month-old daughter, Ayan, was one of those still beyond the reach of the programme, in their remote village a 24-hour journey to the south of Hargeisa.
Despite their enthusiasm, hospital staff members expressed multiple concerns about the ambitious reach of the programme, whether resources would be equal to the demands, and whether resistance might be encountered at the "sharp end" 46 where staff care for patients.
While this had the positive effect of broadening the reach of the programme to individuals who would not have otherwise benefited, it also potentially introduces a bias, in that participants who self-selected may have different characteristics to those who refuse to participate or have no interest in participating in group support programmes.
The research methods and grant writing courses are being adapted for a distance learning platform to extend the reach of these programmes with marginal additional investments.
Two years after its initiation the reach of the intervention programme was modest.
