Chamas for Change Validation

Chamas are a community-led model of peer support for women in pregnancy and infancy. Chamas are highly gendered institutions that women have relied on for survival to pool resources. Using this existing cultural script, chamas have been tailored to the needs of pregnant women. Central to the approach is the integration of health, social and financial literacy education with a savings/loans program. Chamas are designed to improve MNCH by generating positive peer support for women to advocate for themselves and account for the care they receive.