Mozambique Defines ECD Priorities at Regional Convening in Nairobi

Nairobi, Kenya - UNICEF Mozambique joined government and civil society representatives at the Early Childhood Development (ECD) East and Southern Africa Initiative Convening, hosted by the Hilton Foundation in Nairobi. The event brought together participants from Kenya, Tanzania and Mozambique to reimagine ECD in a rapidly changing context, with a focus on locally led systems, strategic advocacy and innovative approaches to implementation.

Mozambique’s delegation of around 25 participants included officials from the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Welfare, representatives of national and international NGOs, and civil society organisations. The convening provided an important platform for cross-country learning and collaboration within the Hilton Foundation’s Refugees and ECD Initiatives.

Structured around three thematic pillars—advancing locally led ECD systems; reframing and tracking ECD through advocacy, positioning and progress; and thinking and acting differently—the event helped countries assess progress, identify gaps and define strategic priorities for the next five years.

Mozambique emerged from the convening with a clear five-year roadmap for ECD, anchored in six priority areas:

• Advocacy for increased investment in ECD
• Enhanced engagement with the private sector
• Expansion of parental education programmes
• Strengthened multisectoral coordination through CNAS
• Development of a national ECD indicator matrix
• Increased coverage of ECD interventions nationwide

Leadership for ECD in Mozambique will be spearheaded by the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Welfare, ensuring alignment with national social protection and child development strategies.

The convening also concluded on an encouraging note, with the Hilton Foundation confirming the renewal of its grant to continue supporting the partnership in Mozambique, further strengthening collective efforts to deliver quality early childhood development for all children.

This moment marks a key milestone for Mozambique’s ECD agenda, reaffirming the country’s commitment to building resilient, inclusive systems that nurture the development and wellbeing of every child, especially those in vulnerable and underserved communities.