Dual-Generational ECD Programming in Fragile Contexts

• In Event: Roundtable Session 2
  In Refereed Roundtable Session: Locating the role of technology in family-oriented solutions for early years in fragile contexts

Proposal

Presenter: KanuPriya Jhunjhunwala, Head of MEL & Education at Children in Crossfire

Children in Crossfire’s work in Ethiopia emphasizes its ‘furthest behind first’ strategic approach to early childhood care and education. Early childhood development is by its very nature, multisectoral and the Nurturing Care Framework recognizes that a young child’s life is dependent on the parent’s ability to provide responsive care and inherently places the child within the sphere of family wellbeing. This necessitates extending care not just to the child, but rather a chain of care reaching, children, mothers, and fathers.

In 2021, we conducted a survey across 238 households in the newly designated town area of Dillela, within the Wolisso woreda (Oromia Region). Across these households, we found 283 children of preschool age, of which only 35 were enrolled in early education. The most frequent reason provided by parents was the lack of pre-primary school places in the area. We lobbied with the local education bureau to start a pre-primary class at the primary school.

The second reason that became apparent was poverty and a lack of awareness of the right age for enrolment. Secondary data indicated high levels of malnutrition and poor health. Based on these findings we developed our 2-Gen Approach, working across health, nutrition, livelihoods, responsive parenting, and early learning through different local partners specialized in health, community development, and education. Our focus on equity allows us to take a deliberate look at barriers that prevent children from accessing the services they need, even beyond the scope of immediate ECCE interventions.

In this roundtable discussion, we will present emerging findings on improvements in family well-being, household income, women's empowerment, and children's development gains. We would like to start building a picture of how each of the components brings outcomes that coalesce into a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts. We would like to evidence that while supporting ECD in fragile and complex contexts, working with children is necessary but not sufficient; and a family-first approach is ideal.

Author

• KanuPriya Jhunjhunwala, Children in Crossfire