With the ambitious goal that all children under the age of six will be developmentally on track by 2030, the Addis Ababa City Administration set out to implement “The Future Hope of Addis Ababa Early Childhood Development Program.” In its initial phases, the program achieved significant milestones, reaching tens of thousands of children with quality early childhood development (ECD) services.
In order to share the lessons-learned from this pioneering program and foster similar approaches across the African continent, the City Administration, in partnership with Big Win Philanthropy, will organize an International Leadership Exchange from May 11-14 in Addis Ababa. Bringing together around 20 high-level officials from Kenya, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, and Zambia, as well as the leaders of various regions across Ethiopia, this exchange will provide unparalleled insight into the strategies and approaches adopted by the Addis Ababa City Administration in the implementation of the ECD program. It will also offer in-depth analysis of the catalysts behind the city’s decision to set far-reaching goals and to place great emphasis on improving children’s health, education, and psychosocial well-being.
This exchange will prove invaluable for creating synergies within country and city leadership teams that are crucial for the development of effective plans for state-of-the-art ECD programs. It will foster new connections among the participants, creating a continental network dedicated to addressing common goals and challenges in early childhood development.
After taking part in the International Leadership Exchange, the participants will be able to develop their own approaches to early childhood development in their countries, regions, and cities, equipped with insights to uncover the needs and current status of ECD in their respective contexts. They will also be encouraged to create partnerships that ensure that the ECD programs deliver on their promises and transform the lives of millions of children in their areas.
