1. ECD Policy Experiences
Judith L. Evans
Presentation at Policy Review Workshop
February 6-8, 2007
UNICEF/UNESCO, Bangkok

2. Some Experiences
Jordan
Jamaica
Namibia
EAPRO Countries

3. Jordan Receives high level support for ECD.
There was an enabling environment
High level national conference lead by the Queen set the stage
Queen created a multi-sectoral task force to develop a comprehensive Early Childhood strategy
Receives high level support for ECD.
The environment for an ECD policy was ripe and enabling (built on good services).
Held a high level national conference on ECD lead by the Queen.
Queen started a multi-sectoral task force to develop a comprehensive strategy on ECD.

4. Jordan cont. A technical meeting was held to build ownership
A Plan of Action developed for monitoring and implementation
A communication strategy targeted policy makers
A technical meeting with all partners and sectors (350 institutions) was held to build ownership of the ECD strategy
A Plan of Action was developed for monitoring and implementation of the strategy
A communication strategy was developed to target policy makers through a mass media advocacy strategy.

5. Jordan cont. What is different as a result of the new policy?
Increase in convergence of efforts across ministries
Better Parenting Initiative adopted and allocated resources
More comprehensive services being offered
Increased focus on quality issues
Pending: Financial and resource issues still need addressing
What is different as a result of the new policy?
There is an increase in the convergence of efforts across the ministries involved
The Better Parenting Initiative has been adopted as one of the strategies for working with parents and allocated a budget.
There are more comprehensive services being offered
There is more focus on quality issues
Pending: Financial and resource issues still needs addressing

6. Jamaica's Experience Began with National Strategic Review of ECD
Led by Planning Institute - a neutral agency
Involved all stakeholders, held series of broad-based inter-sectoral consultative workshops to examine issues affecting young child development
A key here is the fact that it was the Planning Ministry that had the lead. As noted, they had nothing invested in the outcome of the process. They were not fighting to have their sector lead or get control of resources.

7. Jamaica cont. Analysis based on CRC, done by age groups
Developed a National Plan of Action that included:
1. Policy, governance, organisation
2. Supportive interventions
3. Direct services for children
Analysis based on CRC and by age groups: 0-3, 4-5, 6-8 year olds, looking at survival, early learning, protection and participation
Developed a National Plan of Action with the following components:
1. Policy, governance, organisation
2. Supportive interventions (e.g., training,
material development)
3. Direct services for children

8. Jamaica cont.
An inter-sectoral early childhood commission was approved
Policy for early childhood institutions was developed
An Early Childhood Act has been developed.
A National Plan of Action has been created
Pending issues: Financing of implementation
Based on 1st component of the National Plan of Action, a recommendation for an inter-sectoral early childhood commission was submitted to cabinet and was approved
Policy for early childhood institutions was developed (i.e., DC centres and pre-schools). An Early Childhood Act is to be developed.
Pending issues: How to translate the National Plan of Action to policy?

9. Namibia's Experience Push for an “ECD” policy came from President
Main focus: clarify the role of the ministries involved, outline their responsibilities at national, regional and community level
An Inter-ministerial Task Force was formed that included all ministries involved and NGOs representative.
The process took one year and a half and was approved by the parliament.
The push for an “ECD” policy came from the President.
The main focus of the policy was to clarify the role of the ministries involved in early childhood (Education, Health & Local Government and Housing) and outline their responsibilities at national, regional and community level.
An Inter-ministerial Task Force was formed which included all ministries involved in young child issues and NGOs representative.
The process took one year and a half and was approved by the parliament.

10. Namibia cont.
HOWEVER
There was a restructuring of Ministries and the lead Ministry no longer exists
No implementation strategy was planned. Thus the policy was not fully implemented
A trust fund was proposed for financing ECD activities, but not created
The policy has gone through an extensive review and is being revised
There was a restructuring of Ministries and the lead Ministry no longer exists
No implementation strategy was planned (the task force was supposed to do that), thus the policy was not fully implemented
A trust fund was proposed for financing ECD activities at community level but not created
The policy has gone through an extensive review and is being revised

11. Namibia cont
Pending issue: There is no functioning policy in place at the present time.

12. A caution Policy is not a way to respond quickly to current needs
Policy making is a process that takes time
Then is a gap in time between the policy's adoption and its implementation
The process may get stopped along the way
Nonetheless policy development is important!
Policy should not be thought of as a way to respond quickly to current needs. Policy should be designed to foster long-term, national development goals and not be viewed as a stopgap measure to respond to pressures of the day.
Policy making is a process that takes time. It can take several years from the time the policy formulation process begins until a policy is actually in place.
Then there is likely to be a gap in time between the policy's adoption and putting the mechanisms into place to allow for its implementation.
The process may get stopped along the way. Government can change, putting another party in power.
Nonetheless policy development is important!

13. EAPRO Examples (as of 2003)
Cambodia - policy ECE (age expansion), work with national counsel for children, MoH chair person, thinking about including minister of finance
Mongolia – Community based program, child/family focused strategy (structure already in place and building on)
Thailand – reorganization of existing policies, task forces,
Cambodia - policy ECE (age expansion), work with national counsel for children, MoH chair person, thinking about including minister of finance
Mongolia – Community based program, child/family focused strategy (structure already in place and building on)
Thailand – reorganization of existing policies, task forces,

14. Lao – National strategy plan, coordinating body is Lao women’s union
Philippines - have had a task force in place for years, rotating leadership
Indonesia – thinking about policy in more integrated approach

15. Updating EAPRO
That’s our task now!