Delivered through home visits, group sessions, our ECD programs prioritize quality parent-child play activities and promote “positive” or “responsive” parenting practices: ensuring that children have adequate supervision as well as proper nutrition, hygiene and sanitation. By transforming their relationships with their children through play, parents are able to build, repair and strengthen the bonds with their children, and even with the broader community.
These connections are social, but also deeply rooted in the cognitive and emotional development of young children. Through consistent and responsive interactions, caregivers and service providers can develop more secure attachments, making children feel safer. This sense of security and belonging is crucial for exploration and learning, as it gives children the confidence to engage with their environment and new experiences.

To promote the physical and mental well-being of children under the age of five, we work closely with local partners to train lactating mothers on breastfeeding practices and preparing nutritious weaning diets. Through these training, mothers have gained improved knowledge, attitudes, and skills in using locally available resources to support their children's healthy growth. As a result, malnutrition rates among children under five have decreased, and mothers are now better equipped to provide nourishing meals to their children.

Foundational learning nurtures young minds, allowing children to flourish. Throughout our programs, we have ensured that children (under 5) do not only get access to pre-primary education, but also transition to primary education.

We create safe and protective home and community settings where children’s rights are upheld, preparing them for a successful transition to primary school.
Working with our local partners, we have established 14 ECD centers in Falaba, Bombali, Koinadugu and Bombali districts, each staffed with ECD and Child Support Services (CSS) facilitators dedicated to fostering children's growth, learning, and well-being.Learn More

This component targets children 3 – 6 years. The entry point is public ECD centers. Currently, we collaborate with over 1,270 ECD centers reaching some 80,000 children enrolled in these preprimary schools benefitting from various interventions including improved learning environments, infrastructure development, health and nutrition, and WASH interventions.

We collaborate with primary caregivers, communities, national and county governments, and Local Implementing Partners to enhance the health, safety, and well-being of infants and young children. Through integrated ECD services aligned with the Nurturing Care Framework, we support families and communities to create nurturing environments for children to thrive. Using a strength-based approach, we focus on building and supporting locally-led initiatives that reinforce families' and communities' capacity to break the cycle of poverty and uphold children's rights.

Advocacy plays a vital role in promoting new legislation and policies, particularly in the realm of ECD. ChildFund is an active member of various ECD-related professional networks and Technical Working Groups (TWG) including:

• The ECD Network for Kenya where ChildFund is the Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors.
• The African Union (AU) Early Childhood Education and Development where, on behalf of ChildFund Africa Region, ChildFund is the Co-convenor of Access to Quality ECED Services TWG. The Cluster was established to support the implementation of the Continental Education Strategy for Africa (CESA) 16-25 objectives related to the early years.
• The National Nurturing Care TWG convened by the Ministry of Health - Division of Newborn and Child Health on nurturing care policy and practice.
• Collaborative Action for Childcare – this coalition brings together an ever-expanding number of partners who, together, respond to the challenges affecting the provision of quality childcare services.