Early Childhood Development Experts kick off Webinar Series
The Early Childhood Development Action Network (ECDAN), in partnership with the Global Partnership for Education Knowledge and Innovation Exchange (GPE KIX), the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), and the LEGO Foundation, launched a new webinar series on March 6. This first webinar, titled ‘Scaling Innovative Approaches to Early Childhood Education: Evidence and Experience’ attracted over 600 participants, bringing together researchers, policymakers, and early childhood experts from education ministries, regional networks, and international organizations across Africa.
The webinar highlighted critical findings from eight research projects conducted between 2020 and 2024 by 20 Southern-based organizations under the GPE KIX initiative. Featured speakers from ECDAN, IDRC, GPE KIX, the Africa Early Childhood Network (AfECN), governments, and local organizations shared research findings and discussed effective early childhood education (ECE) approaches in Africa.
“Despite progress, many children still lack access to quality ECE, and learning poverty remains high,” said Elizabeth Gitonga, Programme Manager at AfECN. She emphasised the need for a strong evidence base to inform scalable, institutionalised, and sustainable ECE innovations by providing an overview of the GPE KIX synthesis report and summarising the findings of the eight completed ECE applied research projects.
Presentations explored two key themes for advancing early childhood education: (1) play-based pedagogy and school readiness and (2) teacher training and professional development. Speakers and participants highlighted that building sustainable, high-quality early childhood education systems requires a holistic, child-centered approach and improved policies, enhanced teacher training, and better infrastructure to integrate play-based learning methodologies effectively.
Bringing diverse perspectives throughout the discussions, speakers at the webinar included Professor Godfrey Ejuu, Kyambogo University; Dr. Safina Mutumba, Ministry of Education, Uganda and Alinafe Chibwana, Executive Director, CRECCOM, Malawi who presented the main findings from GPE KIX project Inclusive child to child learning approach, and how this model was integrated and scaled by policymakers and civil society organisations.
Speakers also included Given Daka, Regional Coordinator, AfECN; Lamin Jobe, Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, The Gambia and Abdoulie FR Jadama, University of the Gambia who discussed how the findings from GPE KIX project Promoting positive early learning outcomes through strengthened capacity in learning through play have also been used by policymakers and community level actors in The Gambia.
Stay tuned for the next webinar of the ECE series that will be held on May 21st 2025.
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About the Early Childhood Education Synthesis Report
Early Learning Early childhood education (ECE) is critical in cognitive, socio-emotional, and physical development. This report features insights from eight applied research projects, including five cofinanced by the LEGO Foundation, to highlight best practices in play-based learning, teacher training, gender equity, and community engagement. It provides an overview of key challenges and innovative approaches related to scaling early learning initiatives and identifies policy recommendations to ensure access to quality education for young children. You can download the report here.
Early Childhood Education
