Strengthening ECD Policies and Programs: Frameworks, Benchmarks and Roadmaps

1. Strengthening ECD Policies and Programs: Frameworks, Benchmarks and Roadmaps Presented by Marito Garcia Technical Workshop of the Africa ECCD Initiative July 27, 2010 (Based on work by Emiliana Vegas, Veronica Silva and Amanda Epstein)

2. Presentation Overview • Definitions: Early Childhood Development, ECD programs and ECD policies. • Introduction of Framework to classify ECD Policies • Typology of ECD programs • Framework for classifying ECD policies at the national level, to help countries identify • (i) their current level of development in this area, and • (ii) some policy options to further develop ECD policies. • Application of framework to four country case studies • Preliminary application of framework to 12 SSA countries • International comparisons

3. Definitions • Early Childhood Development as the period from when a child is conceived to six years of age (0-6). • Three types of ECD outcomes are critical for life outcomes: • physical growth and well-being, • cognitive development, and • socio-emotional development. • ECD programs include specific interventions that may vary according to primary objective, coverage (small scale, universal), and other program characteristics. • ECD policies refer to the regulatory framework and institutional arrangements for service delivery at the national and/or state level to ensure that a nation’s children have access to quality ECD services.

4. National ECD Policy Classification Process Step 1: Take stock of existing ECD programs and interventions, using 9 Key Characteristics Step 2: Classify ECD interventions and programs into one of four types (sectoral, cross-sectoral, multi- sectoral or comprehensive) Step 3: Evaluate the level of development of ECD policies at the national and/or subnational level, using four critical dimensions of ECD policies Step 4: Identify country-specific policy options to strengthen ECD policies and programs

5. Typology of ECD Programs • 9 Key Characteristics: • Primary policy objective; • Brief description; • Focus area/intervention mechanism; • Coverage/access; • Institutional arrangements; • Financing; • Service providers; • Quality assurance mechanisms; • Challenges for going to scale and improving service delivery. • 4 General Types of Programs: • Sectoral • Cross-sectoral • Multi-sectoral • Comprehensive

6. What interventions affect ECD (and how)? Child Prenatal 0-2 3-4 5-6 Mother(prenatal) Mother/Father/ Caregiver Healthcare and hygiene Maternal/prenatal health Water and sanitation Healthcare prevention Mental Health Education Preschool (3-6) Care (0-3) Poverty alleviation Income transfers Maternity/paternity leave Female labor participation Home infrastructure Nutrition Food and supplements

7. Comprehensive Coordinated interventions across multiple sectors Multi-Sectoral Complexity of Institutional Arrangements Cross-Sectoral Sectoral Intervention Areas/Mechanisms Single Sector Specific Sector w/ inputs from other sector Multiple sectors, specific programs for targeted or universal populations Comprehensive regular monitoring, some universal services, with tailored interventions

8. A Framework for Classifying ECD Policies 4 dimensions: • Enabling environment. • Degree of implementation. • Monitoring and quality assurance. • Policy focus. 4 levels of development: • Latent • Emerging • Established • Mature

10. Inventory of ECD Programs in 4 SSA Countries Coordinated interventions across multiple sectors Comprehensive Programme de la Renforcement de la Nutrition in Senegal Social Cash Transfer Scheme in Malawi Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) in Zambia PROCAPE in Senegal The Maureen Mwanamasa Community Initiative Market Centre Concept Multi-sectoral Chile Crece Con Tigo Tube Poka Program in Malawi Complexity of institutional arrangements Zambia PreSchool Association Community-Based Care Centers in Malawi Improving the National ECD Response Through Capacity Building in Malawi Case des Tous Petits in Senegal Cross-sectoral Rapid Response Child-Focused Social Cash Transfer and Nutrition Security Project Nutritional Supplement Programs in Zambia Sectoral Child Health Week in Zambia Focus Areas- Mechanisms Comprehensive regular monitoring. Some universal services, with tailored interventions Multiple sectors, specific programs for targeted or universal populations Specific sector w/inputs from other sector Single sector

13. ENABLING ENVIRONMENT Mozambique LATENT POLICY Guinea - Niger Senegal Mali Tanzania/Zanzibar-Liberia Zambia EMERGING POLICY Nigeria Malawi Latent National ECD Policy DEGREE OF IMPLEMENTATION ESTABLISHED POLICY MONITORING AND QUALITY ASSURANCE Mauritius – South Africa MATURE POLICY Emerging National ECD Policy Established National ECD Policy Mature National ECD Policy POLICY FOCUS

15. From Benchmarks to Roadmaps • There is no one identical path for all countries to reach ECD goals, but there can be a set of directions, or “Roadmap” to help countries identify their own unique path. • Such a “Roadmap” can be identified by: • Taking stock of existing programs and policies • Along the four critical dimensions – Enabling Environment, Degree of Implementation, Monitoring and Quality Assurance, and Policy Focus.

16. Strengthening ECD Policies and Programs: Frameworks, Benchmarks and Roadmaps Thank you for your attention and we look forward to working with you! Contact: Mgarcia1@worldbank.org