Yokohama Convention Centre
28 August 2019
The early years play a critical role in laying the foundation for future learning and development. Based on this, Early Childhood Education has been included in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 2030, Africa Union’s Agenda 2030 and in national policies and plans across the region. Great impetus to ECE programming has thus been provided as over half the countries in the region have developed policies that include ECE as part of the basic education structure and governments are working to improve quality and strengthen systems to deliver national programmes especially for the most vulnerable. It is however disconcerting to note that progress has been very slow. According to UNICEF over 57 million pre-primary age children in Africa are not enrolled in ECE. According to a recent UNICEF report, the continental average gross enrollment rate in pre-primary education for Africa is 33%. This situation paints a bleak picture with regards to achievement of SDG 4.2 and Agenda 2063 that both include ECE as a priority.
It is with this in mind that the African Early Childhood Network, African Union Commission, Global Partnership for Education, UNICEF, and the World Bank partnered in hosting a high level side event that was held during TICAD VII in Yokohama, Japan. The fact that ECE featured in the TICAD programme was an important milestone. The main objectives of the event were to:
Highlight the value and urgency of scaling up investments in early childhood education (ECE) in Africa to support the continent’s human capital development and boost economic growth.
Gather and activate commitments from policy makers, civil society, donors, regional and multilateral partners on the importance of enhancing investment in ECE as the foundation of human capital development in Africa, to achieve the SDGs and the Agenda 2063: ‘The Africa We Want’.
Agnes Chan (PhD), Singer, Author and UNICEF Regional Ambassador for East Asia and Pacific Region moderated the session. The key note presentations which presented the context of ECD and the state of play were made by:
H.E. Prof. Sarah Anyang Agbor, AU Commissioner for Human Resources, Science and Technology
Mr. Kenji Yamada, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, Japan
Dr. Lynette Okengo, Executive Director, Africa Early Childhood Network (AfECN)
The session also included a high level panel that addresses the question “What would it take to reach the universal target for quality ECE by 2030?” This session highlighted key challenges and opportunities. The panelists included:
H.E. Mr. Serigne Mbaye Thiam, former Minister of Education of Senegal, and Vice-Chair of the Global Partnership for Education Board of Directors
H.E. Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, Minister of Education, Ghana
Ms. Henrietta H. Fore, Executive Director, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
Mr. Ichiro Aisawa, Chairperson, Japan-AU Parliamentary Friendship Association
Ms. Annette Dixon, Vice President Human Development Practice Group, World Bank Group
The collaborative advocacy of the partners ended with a call to action[EN FR JP]. The side event was a huge success as both the Yokohama Declaration (page 4) and Action Plan (Page 12) included Early Childhood Education and Development.
In addition, the World Bank Group that host GPE and UNICEF committed support to ECE, based on country demand. JICA also made a commitment to support the provision of high quality education through science and mathematics education and improvement of learning environment.