Reimagining Early Childhood Development in a Shifting Landscape – ECD-ESA Partners Convening 

At the Hilton Foundation’s East and Southern Africa Early Childhood Development (ECD) Partners’ Convening in Nairobi, leaders, practitioners and global allies came together with one shared goal: to give every young child in Kenya, Mozambique and Tanzania the chance not just to survive, but to truly thrive. Amid rapid population growth, limited resources, new technologies and ongoing inequalities, participants were challenged to forge a more coordinated, impactful and sustainable future for young children and their families.

Here are some of the key takeaways, organized by our convening partner, Spark Health Africa. 

An Inspirational Address from Mrs. Graça Machel

Mrs. Graça Machel, Mozambique’s first Minister of Education and a globally respected advocate for women and children, opened day one with a motivational keynote. In her address, she urged participants to stay focused on improving young lives and emphasized that investing in early childhood is a non‑negotiable priority for Africa’s future.

Watch her full remarks:

Four Early Childhood Development (ECD) Themes

Before the official convening began, partners and government representatives from Kenya, Mozambique and Tanzania convened for a series of pre-meetings focused on deepening understanding and alignment around four ECD themes, specifically:

1. Adolescent girls and young women caregivers 

2. Child care systems strengthening 

3. Nurturing care within primary health care 

4. Rethinking parenting programs 

Read the Key Takeaways from the Pre-Convening Discussions and learn more about child care systems strengthening from our ECD and Refugees initiative senior program officers. 

Following the convening, Results for Development launched a resource toolkit and blog capturing insights from the pre-convening on nurturing care within primary health care. The materials highlight the importance of making responsive caregiving, early learning, safety and security, and development monitoring and counseling core priorities within primary healthcare systems.

Day 1 Highlights: Setting the Stage for ECD Across Kenya, Mozambique & Tanzania

• Regional & Global ECD Trends Panel featuring UNESCO, WHO, the World Bank and UNICEF: Panelists called for a shift in ECD from donor-driven aid to a social necessity—essential for health, education, and economic growth, with resources anchored in local systems. 

• Shifting Funding Landscape: With traditional aid shrinking, governments face mounting pressure to show results. Participants agreed sustainable domestic financing and strong public leadership are non-negotiable for long-term success. 

• Country Roundtables: Country teams from Kenya, Tanzania and Mozambique, led discussions using evidence, knowledge and experience to reflect on the last five years (2020-2025) and examine what has and has not worked.  

Dive deeper into the insights from Day 1, including a detailed table of each country report. 

Day 2 Highlights: Advocacy, Positioning and Progress

• Reframing ECD as a prioritized, investable national agenda: Country teams presented unique elevator pitches to reframe ECD beyond a social sector issue, aligning it directly with core national economic and human capital goals. 

• Emerging best practices for a localized ECD investment case: A high-level panel highlighted five interconnected pillars essential for building a strong case for early childhood development investment: government leadership at all levels, sustainable domestic financing, robust delivery systems, active community engagement, and effective measurement. 

Dive into insights from Day 2, including the three country elevator pitches. 

Day 3 Highlights: Priorities and Commitments

• National commitments to an action agenda: Each country presented a coordinated, time-bound plan for accountability and implementation, outlining distinct yet complementary pathways that address their unique challenges while remaining aligned with shared cross-cutting priorities 

• A collective roadmap: All three countries agreed that the path forward hinges on functional coordination, targeted domestic financing, and robust data systems. 

Read each country’s action plan 

A New Coordinated Approach to ECD in East and Southern Africa

Over five days of forward-looking, collaborative dialogue, a strong consensus emerged: while foundational ECD policies and programs are largely in place, the critical challenge now is to convert this potential into tangible, scaled impact for every child. Achieving this requires strengthening systems, securing sustainable financing, and ensuring accountability. Governments, partners, and the Foundation renewed their commitment to systemic change and measurable outcomes—bringing closer a vision of a future where every child in East and Southern Africa has the opportunity to thrive.

Read the full summary report.