NEWS: Collaborations for enhanced Early Child Development services in Kenya’s Arid and Semi-Arid Lands
July 29, 2024 | 11:13 am
By Maureen Ooko, Communications Officer, Aga Khan University
The Aga Khan University Institute for Human Development (IHD) has partnered with Kenya’s Mandera County government to advance early childhood development services in the county. This partnership, solidified through a recently signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), represents a shared committed to strengthening Early Childhood Development (ECD) services across the county.
The MoU was signed during the opening ceremony of the Science of Early Child Development (SECD) workshop that was being delivered by IHD. The 6-day workshop that took place in Mandera county, forms part of the agreement under the MoU. Other courses to be offered include the Disability-Inclusive ECD Course; the Gender and ECD Course and the learning through play course.
“We need to re-think our approach to Early Childhood Development (ECD). The ECD sector has traditionally been approached in isolation, which has limited its effectiveness. It is important that we adopt a multi-sectoral approach that involves various stakeholders to ensure all children can thrive,” said Dr Abdikadir Alio, Chief Officer of Education, Mandera County.
The Manager, Aga Khan University Institute for Human Development, Margaret Kabue affirmed the Institute’s commitment to providing technical support to the county government. “The Institute is ready to provide technical support to the county government,” she said, highlighting the collaborative spirit of the partnership.
The SECD course is housed under the ECD Workforce Hub, hosted by the Institute for Human Development. The course seeks to make current research accessible to anyone interested in learning more about the profound impact of early life (from conception to eight years) on lifelong health and wellbeing.
Underscoring the importance of the SECD course, Dr. Alio noted, “In 2023, policymakers from Mandera county attended a training birthed from the SECD course. The course sparked our interest in investing in ECD and fostering collaboration and coordination among ECD stakeholders.”
Also present at the event, the Mandera County Executive Committee Member for Agriculture and Livestock, Adan Dakane commended IHD for their dedication to promoting the healthy development of children. He urged the institute to ensure county government staff from all departments relevant to early childhood development are trained on ECD related courses offered by the Aga Khan University.
Their participation underscores the importance of a coordinated effort across different sectors to enhance the impact of ECD initiatives. By working together, stakeholders in Mandera County are paving the way for a brighter future for their youngest residents, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to thrive.