Early Childhood Development (ECD) in Kenya, particularly in Samburu County, is predominantly viewed through the lens of education services provided for at Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) centers. This narrow interpretation was affirmed when the Samburu County Leadership acknowledged that most of the ECD programmes in the county included construction of ECDE classrooms, provision of teaching/learning materials, introduction of school feeding programmes as well as recruitment and employment of teachers targeting children 4-5 years. Interestingly, the county leadership also noted collaborative partnership with key stakeholders to improve maternal, child, and adolescent health, as well as implementation of social protection targeting vulnerable households with young children. The above shows that though the county leadership associate ECD more with pre-primary education, there exists efforts to ensure provision of other ECD related health and social protection services.
Despite the above efforts, weak multisectoral coordination of ECD affects delivery of holistic and integrated services to young children in Samburu County. The delivery of ECD services in the county is marked by fragmentation with different departments reported to operate independently. Moreover, services for children aged 0-3 years, such as responsive caregiving and early stimulation, were reported to receive limited attention, exacerbated by inadequate policy documentation and childcare facilities. The existence of limited and or no policy guidance on multisectoral coordination is identified as one of the reasons why certain ECD services such as provision of affordable quality childcare has not been given much needed attention in the county. For example, apart from the three children rescue centers in Samburu Central that host children affected by spontaneous insecurity, the county lacked childcare centers to offer care services for children below the school going age.
Samburu County is also reported to be one of the county’s leading in the prevalence of teenage pregnancies in the country (KDHS, 2022). However, lack of multisectoral approach to ECD might affect implementation of whole-of-government, whole-of-society approach to addressing it, and responding to the needs of teenage mothers’ children. The above calls for more advocacy efforts to scale-up adoption and implementation of Nurturing Care Framework (NCF) across the country. This blog therefore explores components of NCF with a view to increasing awareness on holistic ECD programming.
Understanding Early Childhood Development
Early childhood typically refers to the period from birth to eight years of age. UNICEF’s vision for ECD focuses on birth to primary school entry, emphasizing the first 1,000 days as critical for physical growth and brain development. Samburu County’s ECDE bill of 2014, defines a child as between three and six years old, focusing primarily on pre-primary education. This limited focus contrasts with various policy frameworks, such as the Comprehensive ECD Policy Framework of 2006, the Integrated ECD Policy Framework of 2017, and the Nuturing Care Framework for ECD, which covers ages 0-8 and categorize children into four age groups; conception to birth, birth to three years, three to six years, and six to eight years.
However, ECD health interventions are integrated into public health services focusing on children aged 0-5 years, particularly through antenatal care, nutrition and immunization services. This fragmented understanding of ECD age categories creates barriers in implementing comprehensive ECD services across different departments. Harmonizing the age focus as per the integrated ECD policy framework can improve service delivery and data collection, particularly for children under three years, ensuring better resources allocation and service standards.
Key Concepts of ECD Services
Nurturing care supports children to survive and reach their full potential and ECD represents the outcomes measured. Nurturing care is characterized by a caregiving environment that is sensitive to children’s health and nutritional needs, responsive, emotionally supportive, and developmentally stimulating and appropriate, with opportunities for play and exploration and protection from adversities. However, ECD services is defined in Samburu County ECD bill as “early childhood service” means an early childhood education and care center service, home-based education and care service, or hospital-based education and care service. The focus is much on education services, leaving out other care services. The ECD services are interconnected to one another which emphasizes the multisectoral approach in ECD service provision as discussed below.
Nutrition
Maternal nutrition before, during and after pregnancy, breastfeeding, complementary foods and responsive feeding and care. Fortified foods and micronutrient supplements for children and women. Early detection and treatment of child malnutrition. Early stimulation in Child Nutrition and Development programmes.
Health
Maternal and newborn health. Maternal and caregiver mental health. Immunization and management of common childhood illnesses. Early detection and intervention for developmental delays and disabilities. Early stimulation in Child Health and Immunization programmes
Early Learning
Early childhood care and education services. Parenting support for early learning and caregiving. Enhanced home-learning environments. Social-emotional development of children. Inclusive early childhood education for children.
Safety & Child protection
Legal identity, including birth registration. Mental health and psychosocial support for children and caregivers. Prevention of violence against children and women in family settings. Prevention and response to child abuse and neglect. Prevention of family separation and promotion of family-based alternative care.
Water and sanitation
Safe and affordable drinking water. Safe handling and storage of drinking water. Sanitation, including the safe disposal of child feces. Handwashing with soap at critical times by caregivers and young children.
Recommendations
The County Integrated Development Plan of 2022-2027 rated and projected the category of these children to be the highest population in the county but less focus budgeted in terms of safety and security, good parenting and early stimulation.
However, the county leadership has diverted funds allocated for ECD to other activities, such as bursaries for secondary and tertiary education, impacting the delivery of ECD services. The health department lacks specific budget allocations for children aged 0-3 years, focusing instead on general health treatment and prevention services. The county executive committee member for health confirmed that the health department does not receive a specific budget for children 0-3 years but rather receive allocation for health treatment and prevention services.
Policy Formulation and Adoption:
Formulate and adopt a comprehensive ECD policy to clarify and support the full range of ECD services. Strengthen the multisectoral approach to ensure integrated service delivery across different departments.
Resource Allocation:
Ensure dedicated budget allocations for ECD services, particularly for children aged 0-3 years.
Lobby for resources to support the full spectrum of nurturing care components.
Health
Maternal and newborn health. Maternal and caregiver mental health. Immunization and management of common childhood illnesses. Early detection and intervention for developmental delays and disabilities. Early stimulation in Child Health and Immunization programmes
Infrastructure and Support Services:
Develop and maintain childcare centers to support children below school-going age.
Enhance support for good parenting practices and early stimulation programs.
Recommendations
In conclusion, unpacking the concept of ECD in Samburu County requires a concerted effort to broaden the understanding and implementation of ECD services beyond education. By addressing policy gaps, improving resource allocation, and fostering a multisectoral approach, Samburu County can better support the holistic development of its children, laying a stronger foundation for their future growth and development.
