The African Center for Early Childhood Development (AfC-ECD) signs a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Strategic Management Program Office of the Addis Ababa City Administration Mayor’s Office and Kirkos Sub-City Administration to establish the Luísa Diogo Memorial Childcare Center and Playground in Kirkos Sub City, Addis Ababa.
The agreement marks an important milestone in a shared commitment to improving early childhood development services and creating safe, inclusive, and child-friendly spaces for young children in the city. The planned center will be located on Mozambique Street in Woreda 11, Kirkos Sub-City, and will be named in memory of the late former Prime Minister of Mozambique, H.E Luisa Diogo, in recognition of her leadership and contribution to early childhood development.
The implementation of the project is made possible through financial support mobilized by Myriad, through its initiative, “American Friends of African for Early Childhood Development,” which is providing critical funding for the establishment of the Childcare Center and Playground. AfC-ECD and Myriad USA have also formally signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 29 Jan,2026 to support a broader range of initiatives through which Myriad will provide financial support to advance the center’s work in early childhood development.
Speaking at the signing, the partners emphasized that the early years of a child’s life are critical in shaping their future development. Experiences during this period influence how children learn, communicate, build relationships, develop confidence, and understand the world around them. For this reason, investing in safe and supportive environments for young children is seen as a key priority for long-term social development. The MoU reflects a shared understanding that no single institution can achieve meaningful progress in early childhood development alone. Instead, it requires strong partnerships, coordinated efforts, and a collective commitment to placing children at the center of development planning and service delivery.
Through this agreement, AfC-ECD and its partners will work together to bring the vision of the childcare center and playground to life. The collaboration highlights the importance of cooperation between development partners and government institutions in expanding access to quality early childhood development services.
The impact of the center is also expected to extend beyond children to families and the wider community. A well-designed early childhood development facility can provide parents and caregivers with greater confidence that their children are in a safe and supportive environment within the community, children and families in Kirkos Sub-City and contribute to the broader early childhood development agenda of Addis Ababa.
