POLICY MAKERS WORKSHOP FOR MEMBERS OF COUNTY ASSEMBLY FROM LREB 18th – 20th SEPTEMBER 2023 IN MOMBASA-KENYA

September 25, 2023

   Group photo of the workshop participants From Kisumu and Kakamega County Assemblies.

KMET in partnership with Lake Region Economic Bloc (LREB) Secretariat has been implementing a county-led Nurturing Care for Early Childhood Development (NCfECD) model dubbed – Smart Start Initiative (SSI)- in six LREB member counties i.e. Nyamira, Kisumu, Homa Bay, Kakamega, Vihiga and Busia.  

To empower policymakers with information on the Science of ECD, to enable them to appreciate the importance of investing in interventions that support Early Childhood Development in their own counties as a foundation for the survival and thriving of children. Training done in collaboration with PATH and led by AgaKhan University Institute for Human Development.

To foster comprehensive nurturing care interventions, it is essential to establish inclusive platforms that engage both caregivers and children, with a specific emphasis on adolescents as caregivers. These interventions should be underpinned by intersectional collaboration across various sectors, recognizing the critical importance of early childhood investments. Strengthening community engagement, capacity building, and improved messaging are vital tools for promoting responsive caregiving and behavior change communication, ensuring a well-rounded and holistic approach to child development and well-being.

The next action steps

Policymakers (MCAs) should prioritize the review and incorporation of nurturing care for Early Childhood Development (ECD) into relevant policies, allocate government funds for its widespread implementation across sectors, integrate nurturing care messages into community engagements, champion and support the inclusion of nurturing care initiatives in legal frameworks, and be advocates for positive change in the realm of ECD.

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KMET DIRECTOR-DR.MONICA OGUTTU DURING REMARKS

 

By Peter Obare