Innovation Fund Project Proposal

Innovation Fund Project Proposal SIF274

1. Background information
1.1. Organisation ame
Visual Impairment Centre for Teaching and Research,
School of Education, Universit of !irmingham
1.2. Organisation !ddress
Edg"aston
School of Education
!#$ %TT
Universit of !irmingham
U&
1.". #$pe of Organisation
'hich of the follo(ing "est
descri"es our organisation)
(Select a maximum of two
categories)
*on+,overnmental -rganisation .*,-/
!lind Peoples0 -rganisation .!P-/
1isa"led Peoples0 -rganisation .1P-/
-rganisation (or2ing (ith 1isa"led People
3cademic Institution
Ethnic 4inorit ,roup or -rganisation
-ther555 6please specif7
1.4. %ain contact person
*ame8 1r5 Paul 9nch
Email8 p5lnch:"ham5ac5u2
Phone8 ;#%# <#< =>?$
1.&. 'ountr$(ies)* area(s) +
districts of planned project
4ala(i @ Southern Region
1.,. Project name -arl$ c.ild.ood development and education for
$oung c.ildren /it. visual impairment in %ala/i
1.7. !ut.ors of Proposal
1r5 Paul 9nch @ VICT3R, Universit of !irmingham
1r5 ,raeme 1ouglas @ VICT3R, Universit of
!irmingham
1r5 4elissa ,ladstone @ Universit of 9iverpool .3lder
Ae, Children0s Aospital/
2. 'ore Innovation Project Information
2.1. Implementation
'.allenge t.e project
addresses
.Please tic2 the
relevant "oB/
Inclusive Education Challenges
Challenge *o5 #
Challenge *o5 %
Challenge *o5 ?
Challenge *o5 <
Innovation Fund Project Proposal
2. 'ore Innovation Project Information
2.".Background
information and
project rationale
Background to project
Povert and poor health and nutrition are responsi"le for
more than %;; million children under $ ears of age failing to
reach their developmental potential 6#75 -f all people (ith
disa"ilities, it is estimated that C;D live in developing countries
and E;D of children (ith disa"ilities in such settings do not
attend school 6%75 In general, people (ith disa"ilities have poorer
health outcomes, lo(er education achievements, less economic
participation and higher rates of povert than people (ithout
disa"ilities 6?75 'A- has made earl identification of children
(ith disa"ilities a high priorit, especiall as earl reha"ilitation
ma reduce the impact of impairment 6<75 The overall prevalence
of "lindness in the Su"+Saharan region is around #D, (ith an
estimated #E million children "elo( the age of #$ having a
visuall impairment5 In 4ala(i prevalence of "lindness ranges
from ;5$ to #5# per #,;;; children, the highest prevalence in the
poorest areas (ith vitamin 3 deficienc and corneal scarring
accounting for <ED of "lindness 6$75
!lindness can have profound human and socio+economic
conseFuences in man settings, "ut particularl in settings such
as 4ala(i (here health and social services ma "e disjointed
and lac2ing5 The cost of education, reha"ilitation and lost
productivit due to "lindness is a significant economic "urden on
families, communities and nations, particularl those in
economicall deprived areas of the (orld 6=75 1evelopmental
pschologists in the U& have carried research into developing
tools and programmes to promote earl development and
functional vision for "a"ies and oung children (ith visual loss5
4ost recentl in the U&, a G1evelopmental Hournal0 for "a"ies
and children (ith visual impairment has "een developed (hich
promotes empo(ering parents to provide timel support for their
children as (ell as close (or2ing (ith appropriate services 6>+C75
'e propose to underta2e a Fualitative stud loo2ing at
parents0Icarers0 attitudes, "eliefs and "ehaviour to(ards their
children (ith visual loss and ho( communit (or2ers can provide
advice on ho( to support their children at home5 3ccounting for
this, the aim of this project is to adapt items in developmental
assessment tools such as the 4ala(i 1evelopmental
3ssessment Tool .413T/ 6E+#;7 to .#/ ma2e them appropriate to
esta"lish a "asic assessment profile of the development and
a"ilities of oung pre+school children (ith visual impairment for
communit health (or2ers .or others/J .%/ ena"le the
development of accompaning training programmes for
communit (or2ersJ and .?/ ena"le the development of
Gdevelopmental journal0 material for families to encourage
appropriate and sensitive support for their children5
%
Innovation Fund Project Proposal
2. 'ore Innovation Project Information
2.4 Project 0uration
.please note this can
"e for a maBimum of
#C months/
#C months
2.&. Organisations
targeted for
replication1 and
strateg$ to ac.ieve
scale
The ,overnment has produced a National Strategic Plan for
Early Childhood Development (2!"#$) (hich has lin2s (ith the
4ala(i ,ro(th Strateg .4,1s/5 This project aims to tac2le a
num"er of 2e strategic issues set out in the plan, such as poor
access to EC1 services for disa"led children .Issue %/,
harnessing the Fualit of earl intervention for these children at
home and (hen the transition to school .Issues ? K $/ and
improve research in the area of disa"ilit and earl childhood
development .Issue =/5
This project (ill include sta2eholders (or2ing in child
development and education through professional focus groups,
eBpert panels and meetings5 Representatives from the 4inistr of
,ender, Children and Communit 1evelopment .4o,CC1/ and
the 4inistr of Education, Special *eeds Education have "een
informed a"out the proposed stud and have eBpressed a 2een
interest in its development5 The *ational Coordinator for Child
1evelopment, for instance, has reFuested regular meetings
"et(een the research team and his technical group to inform
them a"out progress of the project and to eBplore potential joint
opportunities to appl for further funding to large donors .e5g5
'orld !an2/ (ith a vie( to scaling up the level of intervention to
more regions of 4ala(i and to encourage its partners to ta2e
greater responsi"ilit to support disa"led children as outlined in
the *ational Education Sector Plan .%;;C/ and the *ational
Strategic Plan for E1C .%;;</5 'e (ill (or2 (ith representatives
from organisations that represent EC1 in 4ala(i dra(ing on
their 2no(ledge and eBpertise at various stages of the project8
4inistr of ,ender, Children and Communit 1evelopment
.4o,CC1/ and 4inistr of 1isa"ilit,
4inistr of Aealth, 43CA-A3
4inistr of Education .!asic and SE* 1irectorates/
4ontfort Special *eeds College of Education @ Teacher
training
Parents of 1isa"led Children 3ssociation in 4ala(i
.P-1C34/,
4ala(i Union of the !lind, The 3l"ino 3ssociation of 4ala(i
Sightsavers 4ala(i Countr -ffice
2.,. Ot.er
organisations
/orking on related
issues in t.e project
area
The follo(ing organisations are (or2ing on related issues in the
project area8
#5 Sig.tsavers %ala/i 'ountr$ Office is currentl running a
one ear project (hich is strengthening earl childhood
education and development for disa"led children aged ;+C in
Chi2h(a(a district in Southern 4ala(i5
%5 %ala/i 'ouncil for t.e 2andicapped .43CA-A3/ have
?
Innovation Fund Project Proposal
2. 'ore Innovation Project Information
received funding from the -pen Societ to carr out a % ear
project in developing teacher training of EC1 at 4ontfort
Special *eeds College of Education and to "uild capacit of
resource centres in three education districts5
?5 F-0O%! and %inistr$ of -ducation (Special eeds
-ducation 0irectorate) have received funding from
U*ICEF for ? ears to carr out identification and medical
screening of disa"led children (ho are under $ ears old in
= education districts5
<5 'ollege of %edicine1 0ept of 'ommunit$ 2ealt.1
3niversit$ of %ala/i and the 3niversit$ of 4iverpool1
Institute of #ranslational %edicine are carring out t(o
related projects that (ill provide useful data on earl
development and child care8
a/ 3 feasi"ilit trial loo2ing at the Care for 1evelopment
pac2age .a 'A-IU*ICEF pac2age of care around
encouragement of earl child development in the first t(o
ears along (ith messages around responsive feeding and
earl communication/5
"/ 3 Fualitative stud to create a training pac2age for
nursesIhealth care (or2ers in Lueen Elisa"eth Central
Aospital on providing information for parents of children
(ith acFuired "rain injuries5
2.7. 5.at is t.e total
cost of t.e project6
M#;%,%E$ .see section <5%/
2.7. #otal funding to
8e re9uested from
Sig.tsavers for t.is
project
M><,<?$
<
Innovation Fund Project Proposal
2.: Summar$ of proposed ;oal1 Purpose1 -<pected Outcomes1 Outputs and activities
;oal
(%hat is the overall& higher"level o'(ective
to which the pro(ect)programme will
contri'ute*)
To support professionals and parents in understanding and trac2ing of the development of visuall
impaired children in 4ala(i and associated and timel interventions
Purpose (Overall O8jective)
(%hat is the positive developmental
change that the pro(ect will produce if
successful*)
-<pected outcomes (& ma<)
(%hat are the expected short and medium
term effects of the interventions outputs*)
-<pected outputs
(%hat are the delivera'les achieved as a
result of implementing pro(ect activities*)
%ain activities
(Examples of top line activities)
To develop and trial a tool for
assessing the development of
visuall impaired children in
4ala(i and to provide
associated advice, training and
interventions for parents and
communit (or2ers5
#/ Increased understanding of
approaches to the meaningful
assessment of the development
of pre+school children (ith visual
impairment in 4ala(i5
Report8 Identified eBisting
approaches to care and
stimulation of children (ith
visual impairment
Revie( of practice in high,
medium and lo( income
countries
Focus group discussions
(ith 2e professionals and
authors in the U&
Report8 Identified 2e features
of assessment pac2 and
training programme relevant to
rural settings in 3frica,
specificall 4ala(i
Focus group discussions
(ith 2e professionals and
parents .steering committee/
in 4ala(i
Specification for the
assessment and training pac2
3nalsis com"ining identified
literature (ith situational
reFuirements for 4ala(i
.(ith particular reference to
413T/
%/ 3n initial assessment pac2 and
associated training programme
for pre+school children (ith visual
impairment in 4ala(i5
1evelopment of trial materials
.assessment pac2 I training
programme for parents and
communit (or2ers/
!ased upon specification,
develop initial pilot materials,
follo(ed " trial materials
Trial tools (ith ?; families of
children (ith visual
impairment in three districts
in Southern 4ala(i5
$
Innovation Fund Project Proposal
Purpose (Overall O8jective)
(%hat is the positive developmental
change that the pro(ect will produce if
successful*)
-<pected outcomes (& ma<)
(%hat are the expected short and medium
term effects of the interventions outputs*)
-<pected outputs
(%hat are the delivera'les achieved as a
result of implementing pro(ect activities*)
%ain activities
(Examples of top line activities)
Report on trial and
redeveloped assessment and
training materials
1ata analsis, clean+up and
snthesis, report (riting
Re+development of materials
?/ Increased parental and
professional understanding and
involvement in the assessment of
the development of children (ith
visual impairment in 4ala(i5
Trained professionals in
assessment and advisor
approaches using the
assessment pac2
Training of small groups of
communit (or2ers on ho(
to use the assessment pac2
and complete the
developmental journal (ith
parents
Implemented trial and
associated report
Trial tools (ith ?; families of
children (ith visual
impairment in three districts
in Southern 4ala(i
Trial (ill particularl focus
upon professional and
parental engagement and
understanding
</ 3 clear strateg for the Gscale+
up0 of approaches across 4ala(i
.and the "roader region/5
Pu"lish assessment and
training materials
EBplore (as to "est
distri"ute re+developed
assessment and training
materials and em"ed in
communit practice
Final report (ith associated
G"usiness plan0
4eetings (ith steering group
4eetings (ith sta2eholders
.see section %5$/
Report (riting
=
Innovation Fund Project Proposal
". 0etailed Innovation Project Information
".1. 5.$ is t.is project needed at t.is time in t.is location6
There is much evidence that if children (ho have visual impairment are not stimulated the
eBperience increased developmental dela, "ut this can "e overcome (ith appropriate
intervention in earl ears 5 3s part of this project (e are targeting one of the most
disadvantaged regions of 4ala(i .Chi2h(a(a, 4ulanje, *sanje districts/ (here there is
ver high povert and a higher prevalence of trachoma than the rest of the countr5 This
region eBperiences drought and issues (ith food securit (hich result in malnutrition and
vitamin 3 deficienc, particularl during the dr seasons5
Sector and Implementation Challenge
'.allenge one8 Use Fualitative and participator approaches to adapt a culturall
appropriate tool to assess and trac2 developmental milestones for visuall impaired oung
children and to provide simple advice (ith training messages for parentsIcarers on earl
childhood development stimulation5 '.allenge t/o= Through the use of sta2eholder
meetings, Fualitative and participator research methodolog, ensure that the ne( tools
are integrated in a culturall sensitive and sustaina"le (a5 '.allenge t.ree= Use of
participator action research methods to create a tool (hich could "e sustaina"le for use
" communit (or2ers (or2ing (ith families of "a"ies and oung children (ith visual
impairment and increase access to their local primar schools5
".2. 5.at specific c.ange is t.is initiative intended to ac.ieve6
'e (ill (or2 (ith the communit (or2ers on developing learning materials and
interventions .activit cards using simple art (or2/ and chart their progress over siB
months using adapted items in the 413T and the Gdevelopmental journal05 Through trialling
the 413T and the developmental journal, (e hope to change the (a educational, health
and communit staff (or2 (ith families of disa"led children " providing them (ith some
practical suggestions a"out ho( parentsIcarers can help their children0s development5 'e
hope the EC1E national training coordinators (ill integrate the revie(ed training pac2 into
their training programmes across the countr5
Anticipated short-term impact of the project on the lives of the beneficiaries
"> communit$ /orkers (ill "e a"le to use a simple pac2age for health and communit
professionals (ith little training to support visual impaired children at home5
1> specialist teac.ers (ill use the assessment pac2age (hen assessing pre+school
children and preparing them for school5
"> families of c.ildren /it. visual impairment (ill "enefit from the application of the
outcomes of the assessment and the follo(+up services and the advice that
professional (or2ers and teachers (ill give the children a greater chance of attending
their local school and "ecoming active participants in their communit5
3.3 Methodology
'e plan to use a participator action research .P3R/ approach involving researchers and
participants (or2ing in colla"oration to "ring a"out positive change5 This stud is designed
to ensure participation of sta2eholders in the development of a sensitive and appropriate
assessment tool5 This is reflected in the phases of (or2 ."elo(/ (hich emphasiNe a
consultative approach com"ining eBpert panels of professionals "ased in the U& and in
4ala(i, focus group discussions (ith health and education professionals in 4ala(i and
close (or2ing (ith parents through the trials5 In addition (e (ant to particularl ensure the
participation of families of children (ith visual impairment at all levels "8
inviting them to form a Gsteering committee0 at the "eginning of the projectJ
(or2ing (ith the traditional authorities in the targeted areas (here the liveJ
>
Innovation Fund Project Proposal
". 0etailed Innovation Project Information
".1. 5.$ is t.is project needed at t.is time in t.is location6
There is much evidence that if children (ho have visual impairment are not stimulated the
eBperience increased developmental dela, "ut this can "e overcome (ith appropriate
intervention in earl ears 5 3s part of this project (e are targeting one of the most
disadvantaged regions of 4ala(i .Chi2h(a(a, 4ulanje, *sanje districts/ (here there is
ver high povert and a higher prevalence of trachoma than the rest of the countr5 This
region eBperiences drought and issues (ith food securit (hich result in malnutrition and
vitamin 3 deficienc, particularl during the dr seasons5
Sector and Implementation Challenge
'.allenge one8 Use Fualitative and participator approaches to adapt a culturall
appropriate tool to assess and trac2 developmental milestones for visuall impaired oung
children and to provide simple advice (ith training messages for parentsIcarers on earl
childhood development stimulation5 '.allenge t/o= Through the use of sta2eholder
meetings, Fualitative and participator research methodolog, ensure that the ne( tools
are integrated in a culturall sensitive and sustaina"le (a5 '.allenge t.ree= Use of
participator action research methods to create a tool (hich could "e sustaina"le for use
" communit (or2ers (or2ing (ith families of "a"ies and oung children (ith visual
impairment and increase access to their local primar schools5
holding a final consensus meeting at the end of the project to agree on ne( version of
the training pac2age of assessment and training materials for communit (or2ers5
%ain activities of t.e project
See section %5E and the implementation plan for a more detailed description of the project5
P.ase One= Consultation period (ith professionals in the field of earl child
development and education in the U& and 4ala(i and intervie(s (ith communit
(or2ers supporting families (ith children (ith visual impairment in rural settings in
4ala(i5 1evelopment of an assessment pac2 .adaptation of 413T, a developmental
journal (ith pictorials/ and a training programme to "e trialled (ith parentsIcarers and
communit (or2ers in three selected districts in Southern 4ala(i5
P.ase #/o= Piloting of assessment pac2 (ith a small sample of families, then revise
and change if reFuired "efore rolling it out to a cohort of ?; families (ho have pre+
school children (ith visual impairment5 Recruitment (ill use records from the Social
'elfare -ffices, rural clinics and dispensaries in the three districts as (ell as data held
at 4ontfort Special *eeds College of Education5 Training of ? small groups of
communit professionals (ill ta2e place .C!R (or2ers, child developmental eBtension
(or2ers, AS3s, specialist teachers/ using the developmental journal and
accompaning materials5
P.ase #.ree= 1ata analsis follo(ing trial, report (riting and dissemination of results
to steering committee and other sta2eholders .see section %5$/ and the development
of a G"usiness plan0 for scaling up the assessment pac2 and training programme to
more districts in 4ala(i and possi"le use in other countries e5g5 Oam"ia, Uganda5
".4 Overvie/ of t.e team (please attac.ed '?s for details a8out t.e applicants@
e<perience)
Lead applicant: is!al Impairment Centre for "eaching and #esearch$ School of
%d!cation$ &niversity of 'irmingham
1r5 Paul 9nch .research fello(/ (ill "e responsi"le for the overall running of the
project .activities and outputs @ see section <5?/5 Ae (ill (or2 closel (ith 1r5
,ladstone and the appointed research staff at the College of 4edicine, LECA
C
Innovation Fund Project Proposal
". 0etailed Innovation Project Information
".1. 5.$ is t.is project needed at t.is time in t.is location6
There is much evidence that if children (ho have visual impairment are not stimulated the
eBperience increased developmental dela, "ut this can "e overcome (ith appropriate
intervention in earl ears 5 3s part of this project (e are targeting one of the most
disadvantaged regions of 4ala(i .Chi2h(a(a, 4ulanje, *sanje districts/ (here there is
ver high povert and a higher prevalence of trachoma than the rest of the countr5 This
region eBperiences drought and issues (ith food securit (hich result in malnutrition and
vitamin 3 deficienc, particularl during the dr seasons5
Sector and Implementation Challenge
'.allenge one8 Use Fualitative and participator approaches to adapt a culturall
appropriate tool to assess and trac2 developmental milestones for visuall impaired oung
children and to provide simple advice (ith training messages for parentsIcarers on earl
childhood development stimulation5 '.allenge t/o= Through the use of sta2eholder
meetings, Fualitative and participator research methodolog, ensure that the ne( tools
are integrated in a culturall sensitive and sustaina"le (a5 '.allenge t.ree= Use of
participator action research methods to create a tool (hich could "e sustaina"le for use
" communit (or2ers (or2ing (ith families of "a"ies and oung children (ith visual
impairment and increase access to their local primar schools5
4ala(i5
1r5 ,raeme 1ouglas .senior research fello(/, (ill "e involved in the revie( of
international literature and practice, analsing the data and the final consensus panel5
Prof5 4i2e 4c9inden (ill participate in the eBpert panel, provide advice on the
adaptation of the 413T, the development journal and in the training (or2shops5
Co-applicant: (epartment of )omen and Children*s +ealth$ Instit!te of
"ranslational Medicine$ &niversity of Liverpool$ Alder +ey Children*s +ospital
1r5 4elissa ,ladstone .Clinical Researcher/ (ill "e advising VICT3R on all aspects
of the project, particularl in adapting the 413T for children (ith visual impairment,
creating the development journal and providing regular advice on ho( to use it in the
training materials and carr out field (or2 .intervie(s (ith parents/5
,!een %li-abeth Children.s +ospital$ College of Medicine$ 'lantyre
3 research coordinator and research assistant (ill "e located at College of
4edicine, Lueen EliNa"eth Aospital, !lantre5 The (ill share the da+to+da running
of the project in 4ala(i @ appling for ethics clearance, see2ing advice from paediatric
eBperts in the College, liaising (ith 1r 9nch, the SE*IEC1 adviser and arranging for
translation services, transcription services, preparing training materials, the
developmental journal and coordinating the field(or25
1r5 9nch and 1r ,ladstone have alread consulted various partners, including 4ontfort
College of Special Education and the 1eaner at the College of 4edicine, 4ala(i5
".&. Inspiration and Innovation
In the past 9iverpool Universit and the College of 4edicine, !lantre, 4ala(i created a
simple to use, culturall appropriate developmental tool for rural 3frica through miBed
methods approaches5 Preliminar studies evaluated G*orthern0 developmental items and
found gross motor and language items (or2ed (ell, (hereas social and fine motor items
needed eBtensive adaptation 6##75 The developed a ro"ust methodolog for creating
tools in these settings using Fualitative methodologies to create items 6E7, logistic
regression to create normal age ranges and validation, relia"ilit and consensus
techniFues to assess items5 The 4ala(i 1evelopmental 3ssessment Tool .413T/ (as
E
Innovation Fund Project Proposal
". 0etailed Innovation Project Information
".1. 5.$ is t.is project needed at t.is time in t.is location6
There is much evidence that if children (ho have visual impairment are not stimulated the
eBperience increased developmental dela, "ut this can "e overcome (ith appropriate
intervention in earl ears 5 3s part of this project (e are targeting one of the most
disadvantaged regions of 4ala(i .Chi2h(a(a, 4ulanje, *sanje districts/ (here there is
ver high povert and a higher prevalence of trachoma than the rest of the countr5 This
region eBperiences drought and issues (ith food securit (hich result in malnutrition and
vitamin 3 deficienc, particularl during the dr seasons5
Sector and Implementation Challenge
'.allenge one8 Use Fualitative and participator approaches to adapt a culturall
appropriate tool to assess and trac2 developmental milestones for visuall impaired oung
children and to provide simple advice (ith training messages for parentsIcarers on earl
childhood development stimulation5 '.allenge t/o= Through the use of sta2eholder
meetings, Fualitative and participator research methodolog, ensure that the ne( tools
are integrated in a culturall sensitive and sustaina"le (a5 '.allenge t.ree= Use of
participator action research methods to create a tool (hich could "e sustaina"le for use
" communit (or2ers (or2ing (ith families of "a"ies and oung children (ith visual
impairment and increase access to their local primar schools5
created follo(ing a stud of #<<= pre+school children5 It sho(ed eBcellent relia"ilit and
discriminative validit for identifing children (ith neuro+disa"ilities or developmental
dela in those (ith malnutrition 6#%+#?75
'e plan use the 413T and the developmental journal to encourage positive attitudes
and 2no(ledge regarding developmental stimulation for children (ith visual impairment in
"oth families and professionals .e5g5 reha"ilitation "eing a step(ise process (hich aims
for improved functioning and participation/5 'e anticipate that this programme could
considera"l increase the capacit for managing the ver oung child (ith visual
impairment and (ill then "e a step in raising a(areness countr(ide and (ill (or2 (ith
sta2eholders in a num"er of areas in 4ala(i (ho ma "e a"le to use the p ne(
assessment pac2 in a sustaina"le (a5
This project (ill pilot a ne( approach "8
#5 adapting the 413T for children (ith visual impairment in rural settings,
%5 developing and piloting a ne( developmental journal for parents and communit
(or2ers to use to record children0s progress,
?5 validating a ne( pac2age containing an adapted 413T, a developmental journal, and
guidelines for professionals5
/otential for f!t!re replication or larger-scale implementation
'e plan to develop a "usiness plan to replicate and scale+up the implementation of the
project to(ards the end of the project5 Results from this initiative (ill "e shared (ith all
sta2eholders listed in section %5$ as (ell as 1P-s at a final sta2eholders0 communication
and planning (or2shop5 ,iven the eBperimental nature of the project, (e do not plan to
GeBit0 the project immediatel "ut see2 (as of forging partnerships (ith 4inistries
responsi"le for EC1 and disa"ilit to develop a strong "usiness plan .for future
replication/ that (ill "uild on the successes of ne( successful practices and lessons learnt
from areas that have performed less (ell5
#;
Innovation Fund Project Proposal
". 0etailed Innovation Project Information
".1. 5.$ is t.is project needed at t.is time in t.is location6
There is much evidence that if children (ho have visual impairment are not stimulated the
eBperience increased developmental dela, "ut this can "e overcome (ith appropriate
intervention in earl ears 5 3s part of this project (e are targeting one of the most
disadvantaged regions of 4ala(i .Chi2h(a(a, 4ulanje, *sanje districts/ (here there is
ver high povert and a higher prevalence of trachoma than the rest of the countr5 This
region eBperiences drought and issues (ith food securit (hich result in malnutrition and
vitamin 3 deficienc, particularl during the dr seasons5
Sector and Implementation Challenge
'.allenge one8 Use Fualitative and participator approaches to adapt a culturall
appropriate tool to assess and trac2 developmental milestones for visuall impaired oung
children and to provide simple advice (ith training messages for parentsIcarers on earl
childhood development stimulation5 '.allenge t/o= Through the use of sta2eholder
meetings, Fualitative and participator research methodolog, ensure that the ne( tools
are integrated in a culturall sensitive and sustaina"le (a5 '.allenge t.ree= Use of
participator action research methods to create a tool (hich could "e sustaina"le for use
" communit (or2ers (or2ing (ith families of "a"ies and oung children (ith visual
impairment and increase access to their local primar schools5
".,. Planning for sustaina8ilit$
'e (ill liaise closel (ith other projects "eing carried out " the Universit of 9iverpool,
particularl the 'A-IU*ICEF Care for 1evelopment pac2age strateg (hich is "ased on
Ptraining the trainersQ at the "asic communit level and ho( it can "e integrated into
eBisting sstems e5g5 training targeted at communit health (or2ers or child
developmentIsocial (elfare eBtension (or2ers5 There is a gro(ing interest at government
level to increase earl childhood development at communit level and to train communit
(or2ers to train parents and provide continued training through a pac2age (hich loo2s at
areas such as earl communication and responsiveness "et(een child and carer5 This
project plans to have direct and transformative impact on families (ith visual impairment
living in rural communities in one of the most impoverished part of 4ala(i5 ,iven the
gro(ing attention and investment in this area (e (ill pursue sta"le partnerships (ith
development and education organiNations that are committed to achieving lasting change
in earl childhood development and education of disa"led children5
4. Project %anagement + Ae9uired Aesources
4.1. Financial
re9uirements
+ear ,ne- .$/&20#
+ear 1wo- .22&2$
4.2. Partner resources
availa8le
The funding arrangements do not allo( for the Universities of
!irmingham and 9iverpool for recover Gfull economic costs0
.FEC/ for their staff5 This short fall .M%#,C=; from the
Universit of !irmingham, and M=,;;; from Universit of
9iverpool/ is contri"uted to the project5
4.". %anagement of
t.e project
The lead partner (ill provide effective project management
and research administration, and research agreements (ith
partners "ased on previous eBperience of running
international projects5 'e (ill secure common methods and
snthesis of outcomes from the literature revie(, focus group
discussions and data collection in the field, good
communications and effective follo( up5 This (ill provide
##
Innovation Fund Project Proposal
". 0etailed Innovation Project Information
".1. 5.$ is t.is project needed at t.is time in t.is location6
There is much evidence that if children (ho have visual impairment are not stimulated the
eBperience increased developmental dela, "ut this can "e overcome (ith appropriate
intervention in earl ears 5 3s part of this project (e are targeting one of the most
disadvantaged regions of 4ala(i .Chi2h(a(a, 4ulanje, *sanje districts/ (here there is
ver high povert and a higher prevalence of trachoma than the rest of the countr5 This
region eBperiences drought and issues (ith food securit (hich result in malnutrition and
vitamin 3 deficienc, particularl during the dr seasons5
Sector and Implementation Challenge
'.allenge one8 Use Fualitative and participator approaches to adapt a culturall
appropriate tool to assess and trac2 developmental milestones for visuall impaired oung
children and to provide simple advice (ith training messages for parentsIcarers on earl
childhood development stimulation5 '.allenge t/o= Through the use of sta2eholder
meetings, Fualitative and participator research methodolog, ensure that the ne( tools
are integrated in a culturall sensitive and sustaina"le (a5 '.allenge t.ree= Use of
participator action research methods to create a tool (hich could "e sustaina"le for use
" communit (or2ers (or2ing (ith families of "a"ies and oung children (ith visual
impairment and increase access to their local primar schools5
appropriate results and continuit, and Fualit assurance of
project outputs5
The PI, Paul 9nch, (ill manage the project team, ensuring
overall coordination of all team mem"ers0 inputs, outputs of
activities, timel su"mission of delivera"les and is responsi"le
for financial and team management and communication (ith
the funder5 ,iven the logistical reFuirements of this project, a
research coordinator, (ill "e appointed in 4ala(i to plan and
manage activities5 AeIshe (ill ensure progress against an
agreed schedule and manage the da+to+da operation of the
project, administrative support around travel and logistical
arrangements and reim"urse participants for travel and other
costs5
4.4. Implementation
plan
The political situation in 4ala(i has sta"ilised over the past
three months, and so (e do not envisage an disruptions (ith
travel or field visits5 Fuel prices are high and there are often
shortages in filling stations "ut (e (ill plan to purchase
sufficient fuel for field(or25 'e (ill need to appl to the
research ethics committee for approval at the ver start of the
project to ensure it can start place on time and all activities
are carried out to schedule5 !oth 1r 9nch and 1r ,ladstone
have esta"lished eBcellent (or2ing relationships (ith the
4inistries and *,-s (or2ing in the project area and are a"le
to see2 necessar advice throughout the lifetime of the
project5
4.&. %+- plan The successful completion of the project is dependent on the
good coordination of the project activities and outputs and
their timel eBecution, the identification of an pro"lems as
earl as possi"le so that appropriate action is ta2en5 The lead
#%
Innovation Fund Project Proposal
". 0etailed Innovation Project Information
".1. 5.$ is t.is project needed at t.is time in t.is location6
There is much evidence that if children (ho have visual impairment are not stimulated the
eBperience increased developmental dela, "ut this can "e overcome (ith appropriate
intervention in earl ears 5 3s part of this project (e are targeting one of the most
disadvantaged regions of 4ala(i .Chi2h(a(a, 4ulanje, *sanje districts/ (here there is
ver high povert and a higher prevalence of trachoma than the rest of the countr5 This
region eBperiences drought and issues (ith food securit (hich result in malnutrition and
vitamin 3 deficienc, particularl during the dr seasons5
Sector and Implementation Challenge
'.allenge one8 Use Fualitative and participator approaches to adapt a culturall
appropriate tool to assess and trac2 developmental milestones for visuall impaired oung
children and to provide simple advice (ith training messages for parentsIcarers on earl
childhood development stimulation5 '.allenge t/o= Through the use of sta2eholder
meetings, Fualitative and participator research methodolog, ensure that the ne( tools
are integrated in a culturall sensitive and sustaina"le (a5 '.allenge t.ree= Use of
participator action research methods to create a tool (hich could "e sustaina"le for use
" communit (or2ers (or2ing (ith families of "a"ies and oung children (ith visual
impairment and increase access to their local primar schools5
partner, VICT3R, (ill dra( up an implementation plan (ith list
of tas2s, persons responsi"le for tas2s, eBpected outcomes
and (hen the must "e completed as (ell as amount of
"udget allocated to the activit in the local currenc5 The lead
partner (ill closel monitor the the performance of the
partners0 (or2 and the Fualit of the outputs5
#?
Innovation Fund Project Proposal
!nne<es
Aeferences
'urriculum ?itae (please attac.ments)
1r5 P5 9nch
1r5 ,5 1ouglas
Professor5 45 4c9inden
1r5 45 ,ladstone
#<