Early Years Count Uganda

🌱 Uganda has an #ECCE Policy; but who's funding the future of our children? Could #localphilanthropy be the game-changer for sustainable ECCE? Let’s move from charity to systems change. Read more👇 bit.ly/3TofgIk @CivsourceAfrica @ECDAction @af_ecn @MovingMindsECD

As global conversations evolve, the focus is increasingly shifting towards systems capable of sustaining long-term outcomes for children. #ECD #SystemsStrengthening #InvestingInTheEarlyYears

Speaking during discussions at the Addis International ECD Conference, EYC’s Programme Manager @DanAmanyireUg highlighted the importance of strengthening local government ownership, coordinated financing, and policy co-creation grounded in implementation realities.

Sustainable early childhood systems cannot be built on external support alone.

Momentum must be sustained beyond the launch. NECDA is convening members for a post-launch reflection and coordination meeting as the network transitions from mobilisation to implementation of the #ECCEPolicy.

I have been reflecting a lot on the relationship between youth, early childhood development, and the future of Uganda’s human capital and I realised we may still be treating some of our biggest national challenges as separate conversations when they are deeply connected. In this article, I explore why issues like unemployment, adolescent pregnancy, mental health, gender-based violence, climate vulnerability, and even productivity cannot be fully understood without paying closer attention to the environments where human development first begins. I argue that Uganda’s largest and perhaps most overlooked early childhood workforce may already exist in its young people. This piece was shaped by my experiences contributing to Uganda’s Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) policy processes and by a growing conviction that the future of our country’s human capital is being shaped much earlier than we often admit. Would truly value your thoughts, critiques, and reflections. LINK: jembamicheal.medium.com/youth-and-earl…

On 29th April, we joined the @Educ_SportsUg and partners across Uganda for the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Walk, held as a pre-launch engagement ahead of the official launch of Uganda’s ECCE Policy (2025) #ECCEPolicy2025

As global financing landscapes continue to tighten, discussions at the ECD Financing Forum are highlighting an urgent priority: Building early childhood systems that are equity driven, domestically anchored and capable of sustaining long term investment and delivery

As conversations around mental health continue globally, strengthening early childhood systems must remain central to prevention, wellbeing, and long term human development. #MentalHealthMonth #EarlyChildhoodUg

ECD doesn’t lack evidence - it lacks prioritisation within systems that allocate resources. #HumanCapital #EarlyYearsMatter #InvestInECD

The challenge is not just funding, but ensuring that systems are coordinated and capable of turning commitments into real services for children. #ECDFinancingForum #IStand4Children #InvestingInTheEarlyYears #EarlyChildhoodDevelopment

Global ECD discussions highlight a critical reality: As financing tightens with aid declining and debt pressures rising ,resources for early childhood are increasingly constrained.

Systems do not change through policy alone , they change through alignment. At the #ECCEPolicy launch, leaders across key institutions stepped forward with clear commitments, signalling a coordinated shift towards stronger, accountable early childhood systems.

A strong start lasts a lifetime. It was an honour to witness the launch of Uganda’s Early Childhood Care and Education Policy. @UNICEFUganda will continue to support efforts that expand access to quality early learning and care, especially for the most vulnerable children.

In Uganda, millions of children are missing quality early care and learning! Today, @UNICEFUganda joins @Educ_SportsUg, @Necda_ug and partners to the National launch of the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Policy 2025. #StrongBeginningsBrightFutures #InvestInUGchildren

@brassforlifeint That’s the spirit

We commit to contributing positively towards this

Happy labour day. #labourday26

#ECCEWalkUG #StrongBeginningsBrightFutures #ECCEPolicyUG #AbaanaBaffe

The launch of the ECCE Policy marks a shift — from commitment to system-wide action. The priority now is clear: translating policy into functioning systems — standards, financing, coordination, and accountability that reach every child. This is where lasting impact will be made

The streets of Kampala carried a clear message: the early years count. The ECCE Policy Walk signalled growing national commitment to making early childhood a public priority and shared responsibility #ECCEWalkUG #StrongBeginningsBrightFutures #ECCEPolicyUG #AbaanaBaffe