ECD Stakeholders Meeting 19 April 2012

1. ECD Stakeholders Meeting 19 April 2012 General Recommendations

2. Recommendation: Coordination • The ECD Task Force Finalise the Coordination Tables and present them for validation. Submit to the PS forum, including suggestion that different Ministries lead on different committees and rotate leadership. • Coordination Unit in PM office to include ECD. • Important to have committed personnel on the committees who have communication and coordination skills. • ECD prominently feature in EDPRS II as a cross cutting issue and within sector and district plans. Key sectors to integrate ECD Indicators in CPAF matrix. • Integrate ECD in the sector strategies/plans and DDPs and budgets. By the end of 2012.

3. Recommendation: Local Government • There is a concern as to whether human resources are adequate to support the implementation of ECD Plan, especially at the decentralised levels (Districts and Social Workers). • The institutional review of Districts, to ensure that Districts are equipped with adequate and trained human resources, should take into account requirements associated with implementation of the ECD strategic plan.

4. Recommendation – The Church • The important role of the churches in ECD and in preparing parents for their role as the primary caregiver of children. • Church representatives should also be included in the coordinating committees, especially at the District and Sector Levels.

5. Recommendation - Evidence • Data – we need clear and precise data. Evidenced based planning and Monitoring and Evaluation is a priority of the Plan and should be an implementation priority. • ECD Task Force should take the lead in mapping out existing ECD interventions on the ground and identify gaps in services.

6. RecommendationAwareness Raising • Most parents do not have the background to understand about early childhood development. This is the responsibility of all stakeholders. We will take the opportunity of the coming week to raise awareness. • Dissemination of Policy and Strategic Plan – should be in Kinyarwanda. Brochures and Booklets have been translated into Kinyarwanda which will be disseminated to DEOs and others to be used during the campaign.

7. Recommendation - Social Protection • Linking ECD with social protection. How can ECD be better linked with social protection and VUP to ensure that the most vulnerable children access ECD services? This needs to be taken further. • The issue of women going to work and leaving children at home without proper care has to be addressed through innovative approaches such as home-based day care and child care at public work sites. This would also address the issue of older siblings staying at home to look after children.

8. Key Priorities and Way Forward • Raise awareness and sensitisation/mobilisation of communities beyond the action week (2012-2015). • Put in place the proposed committees following the PS Forum validation. Operational by next financial year. Train committees. Action planning by committees. • Develop minimum quality standards and guidelines and minimum package for ECD provision. • Ensure the immediate integration of ECD services in EDPRS, sector, District, and partner plans. • Use and support minimum training packages for pre-school teachers/caregivers, as well as everyone involved in ECD provision, e.g. CHWs, social workers, and police officers.

9. Way Forward continued • Map out existing interventions and budgets within various Ministry plans to gain a comprehensive overview of government ECD programmes. • Disseminate and implement the infant and young child feeding strategy. • Conduct baseline study/survey on the current status of ECD services within one year. • Consider Early Learning and development Standards. • Expand services to each sector (infrastructure/equipment/training). • Provide messages on early stimulation within existing health, hygiene and nutrition interventions.

10. Way Forward - Budget • Financial Commitment from all stakeholders to establish and run the coordination structures. • Explore financial opportunities within the development partner community. • Balance government financing and community contribution.