The African Center For Early Childhood Development (AfC-ECD) and Rise Alliance for Children (Rise) today March 3, 2026, at AfC-ECD office, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to partner in ensuring high-quality early learning environments for young children in Addis Ababa and across Ethiopia.
AfC-ECD and Rise which is an international non-profit that has been working on early learning for 28 years in more than 20 countries now promoting play-based learning , have agreed to jointly work in transforming early childhood systems, strengthening educator capacity, and ensuring that children develop both the academic and social-emotional competencies required to thrive in school and in life.
“The purpose of this MoU is to establish strategic alignment between the parties, reaffirm shared goals, and create a framework for ongoing collaboration and partnership. This agreement reflects a shared aspiration to improve learning environments and learning outcomes for all Ethiopian children and to contribute meaningfully to early childhood advancement across the African continent.” the MOU they signed reads.
During the signing ceremony, AfC-ECD Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr. Kebede Worku briefed the Rise team on the various activities of the center and what has been achieved so far over the last three to four years since its inception.
He mentioned the successful ECD baselines studies the center conducted, its expansion and scale up effort to other national regional states in Ethiopia as well as to some African counties as instances major activities of the center.
The CEO also noted that the signing of the MOU aims ate strengthening pre-literacy and pre-numeracy development as foundations for lifelong learning, advancing school readiness and smooth transitions into primary education , embracing social-emotional learning competencies including cooperation, conflict resolution and the like.
Rise Executive Director (ED) Mara Durrell also at the occasion expressed her pleasure to partner with the center and indicated that the two sides have a lot to share and leverage on what has been done so far to further bolster early childhood development and early learning in Addis Ababa and beyond.
The Executive Director also appreciated what has been accomplished by AfC-ECD and pledged Rise’s partnership and support to the center in the year to come.
The signing ceremony was attended by the top local and international leadership of Rise and members of the AfC-CED leadership.
