The Addis Ababa City Administration brought together the leaders of various regions across Ethiopia to explore ways to expand the transformative impact of its flagship initiative “The Future Hope of Addis Ababa Early Childhood Development Program”. This pioneering program aims to change the lives of millions of children in Ethiopia and beyond through quality early childhood development (ECD) services.
Over three days, the Regional Presidents of Oromia Regional State, Amhara National Regional State, Sidama National Regional State, and Dire Dawa City Administration examined the best strategies to successfully design and implement advanced ECD services that transform the prospects of children in their areas.
The leadership exchange sessions that took place from October 10-12, 2023, brought into focus Addis Ababa’s unwavering commitment to children’s welfare and development. Under the leadership of Mayor Adanech Abiebie, the city is aiming to ensure that more than 1 million children under the age of six are developmentally on track in health, learning, and psychosocial well-being by 2026. The newly-established African Center for Early Childhood Development (ACED) will be instrumental in promoting the expansion of ECD in Africa by sharing knowledge and creating collaborations that support regional and national leaders in Ethiopia and beyond in the design and implementation of programs at scale.
A strong political commitment was at the heart of the leadership exchange discussions. On the first day, participants – including ministers, regional presidents, mayors, and CEOs – analyzed the approaches needed to replicate Addis Ababa’s efforts to deliver quality ECD services and give children the best start in life. Discussions centered on the city’s parental coaching, health, and social support initiative that offers guidance to parents and caregivers, as well as enhancing frontline workers’ ability to deliver ECD services.
Highlighting the most effective early childhood development initiatives that are crucial for school readiness and academic success, the second day was an opportunity to showcase how Addis Ababa is pioneering modern methodologies. This includes carrying out capacity building for educators, developing ‘learn through play’ initiatives, and improving learning and monitoring systems.
The participants were also able to explore how Addis Ababa’s groundbreaking approach to building a sustainable ECD sector can be replicated across Ethiopia and further afield, notably through the African Center for Early Childhood Development. The sessions involved in-depth discussions on how to leverage the potential of the Center for knowledge-sharing and collaboration. The leaders concluded the exchange sessions by reflecting on ways to develop contextual ECD approaches that match their specific regional challenges.
The insights and lessons learned from three days of wide-ranging analyses and discussions about the best ECD practices will lay the foundations for transformative action in cities across the continent, allowing local and national leaders to act swiftly to improve the learning outcomes of children and ensure their health and well-being.
