Parenting Support Policy Benchmarking Assessment Report
Pilot assessment tool for benchmarking policy provision for universal parenting support in South Africa - October 2025
Highlights
UNICEF HQ, in collaboration with Parenting for Lifelong Health (PLH), has developed an evidence-based policy standards framework to assess progress towards the provision of universal parenting support. The framework comprises twelve comprehensive standards, or domains, with associated benchmarks and checkpoints to enable systematic monitoring of policy implementation for parenting support.
It has been designed to identify strengths and opportunities in the national landscape of parenting support policies. The tool is intended as a resource to facilitate the institutionalisation and scale-up of parenting programmes and interventions, and to monitor and measure progress. A four-tier rating system checks progress against benchmarks, although ratings must be considered indicative rather than absolute, as there are no universally agreed assessment criteria. The framework has been piloted in five 'trailblazing' countries (South Africa, Mexico, Serbia, the United Arab Emirates, and Zambia) to test its adaptability and effectiveness in different policy contexts. Insights from these pilot implementations will inform the tool’s refinement for global deployment while supporting individual countries in strengthening their parenting support systems.
Using the benchmarking tool, a rapid national assessment was conducted of South Africa’s progress in implementing universal parenting support policies. This was done in three stages: a) adapting the tool collaboratively with key stakeholders to ensure it aligns with the South African context, b) using it to guide secondary and primary data collection and analysis, and c) disseminating and validating the findings through rounds of consultations with UNICEF, the government, and the wider stakeholder community. This approach ensured that the objectivity of the tool was aligned with the specific context of South Africa, which has an active ecosystem of committed stakeholders working collaboratively to provide parenting support in the country. While not intended as a comprehensive mapping of service provision or an evaluation of existing programmes, the exercise provided insights into policy strengths, gaps, and implementation challenges.
Ratings of benchmarks were validated in sessions with key government representatives and UNICEF. Using the benchmarking tool, a rapid national assessment was conducted of South Africa’s progress in implementing universal parenting support policies. This was done in three stages: a) adapting the tool collaboratively with key stakeholders to ensure it aligns with the South African context, b) using it to guide secondary and primary data collection and analysis, and c) disseminating and validating the findings through rounds of consultations with UNICEF, the government, and the wider stakeholder community. This approach ensured that the objectivity of the tool was aligned with the specific context of South Africa, which has an active ecosystem of committed stakeholders working collaboratively to provide parenting support in the country. While not intended as a comprehensive mapping of service provision or an evaluation of existing programmes, the exercise provided insights into policy strengths, gaps, and implementation challenges.
Ratings of benchmarks were validated in sessions with key government representatives and UNICEF. The assessment found that South Africa has established a strong and progressive foundation for parenting support through extensive legislative frameworks, international convention ratifications, and parentingrelated policies, despite not having a standalone parenting policy. Significant strides have been made at national and provincial levels, through both government and active civil society implementation of a wide range of parenting support programmes. Civil society plays a major role in supporting and working collaboratively with government to undertake innovative efforts to reach more parents, such as by rolling out digital platforms. The South African Parenting Programme Implementers Network (SAPPIN) provides a platform for civil society partners in the field to coordinate efforts. The nation's comprehensive social grant system, including grants such as the Child Support Grant and Care Dependency Grant, continues to be a crucial lifeline for financial support to vulnerable families.
While significant progress has been made in establishing a strong foundation for parenting support in South Africa, opportunities remain to strengthen implementation and scale up. Continued efforts are required to enhance cross-sectoral coordination, secure sustainable financing, and build integrated monitoring systems. These must be addressed to achieve universal parenting support at scale in South Africa.
