Action for ECCE:UNESCO working together with

partnersMaki Hayashikawa

Chief, Section for Basic EducationDivision for Basic Learning and Skills Development

UNESCO

International NGO DayEarly Childhood: Seeds for the Future

23 April 2012

Some highlights from the Sessions1. Integrated holistic approach and inclusiveness

2. Child-centered approach (e.g. ‘follow the child’, child with agency and strengths)

3. Parental involvement - question of the relation between gender and “care”

4. Importance of working with local communities and partners + attention to local culture and history

5. Concern with sustainability (e.g. use of locally available materials, networking and training of educators and toy librarians)

6. Importance of engagement of and support to teachers and caregivers

7. NGOs having a crucial role in putting forward alternatives and innovative practices

8. ECCE as “here and there” + future

UNESCO and ECCE“Learning begins at birth” – EFA Goal 1

++ Following up on our Moscow commitment ++

•Two key considerations: – Taking sector-wide and multi-sectoral approaches to ECCE, with attention to

children’s learning from birth and to smooth transition from ECCE to primary education

– Viewing ECCE as an important strategy for gender equality and inclusion

•Modalities of action: – Targeted evidence-based advocacy– Support to the review and development of feasible policy and programme

options and strategies• e.g. ECCE policy reviews and recommendations

– Support to systematic monitoring of progress• e.g. Holistic Early Childhood Development Index

Partnership is important in all these modalities

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Examples: UNESCO working with partners

• Collaboration with the Consultative Group on ECCD (CG-ECCD)

• Inter-agency project on Holistic ECD Index• Parenting Education Guidebook for NFE

educators in Asia-Pacific• Model ECCE centre (Cairo Egypt) to train ECCE

trainers in Arab States• African series of children books “Bouba and

Zaza”

UNESCO’s new Directives concerning partnership with NGOs

• Adopted by the General Conference in November 2011. – Recognition of the growing importance of the role of civil society in

every aspect of our daily lives

• Simplified framework of partnership allowing greater involvement of NGOs in UNESCO’s programmes– NGOs are considered official partners for the development and

implementation of programmes.

• A new step towards reinforcing UNESCO’s links with civil society

• Essentially a partnership of an intellectual nature

• Different categories of partnership:– Consultative status – Associate status