Oportunity

CALL FOR EXPRESIONS OF INTEREST: Support for Early Childhood Development Advocacy Efforts

The Africa Early Childhood Network (AfECN) is dedicated to advancing early childhood development by empowering grassroots organizations, advocacy groups, and community-led networks to strengthen their advocacy efforts. This approach recognizes that sustainable change is most effective when driven by local actors who understand community needs, can mobilize support from the ground up, and hold decision-makers accountable to policies and investments that prioritize the wellbeing of young children.

As part of our commitment to strengthening advocacy for young children across Africa, we invite expressions of interest that align with the following thematic areas. Selected initiatives will contribute to evidence generation, capacity building, and policy influence in support of early childhood development (ECD):

  1. Maternal Mental Wellbeing: The focus here is on initiatives that promote maternal mental health as a key advocacy issue—particularly during pregnancy and the early parenting period. This includes innovative models, community-driven programs, or research efforts that can inform policies, raise awareness, and mobilize support for integrating maternal wellbeing into national ECD agendas.

  2. Scalable and Contextual Childcare Models: This area focuses on advocating for accessible, community-based childcare solutions that are adaptable to diverse African contexts. Projects should emphasize quality standards, workforce development, and demonstrate potential for influencing policy and investment in childcare systems.

  3. Translation of Evidence into Policy Action: We seek initiatives that actively work to bridge the gap between research, programmatic learning, and policy influence in early childhood development. This includes efforts to package data and evidence into advocacy tools, develop policy briefs, organize evidence-sharing dialogues, and engage stakeholders in decision-making processes. Proposals should demonstrate how evidence is being used to influence policies, shift narratives, or inform strategic investments in ECD at local, national, or regional levels.

  4. Strengthening Grassroots Networks for ECD Advocacy: We aim to support the growth and coordination of grassroots and community-led ECD networks that are actively engaged in advocacy. Expressions of interest should highlight efforts to build local capacity, foster collective action, and promote locally driven influence on national and regional ECD decision-making processes.

Proposal structure

The application should be a maximum of 5 pages containing the following components:

  • Description of the organization (Name, area of operation, contact person, type of organization and website or social media)

  • The definition and justification of the problem to be addressed including the community affected, the country and the geography of intended intervention.

  • The key objectives and expected outcomes

  • A detailed implementation plan including proposed activities, timelines and dissemination plans.

  • Organizational capacity and partnerships; briefly describe your experience in advocacy and/or ECD, and any existing partnerships relevant to the initiative.

  • A budget up to a maximum of USD 10,000

Eligibility criteria

  • These funds are intended for supporting grassroots advocacy efforts to raise awareness and looking to make a difference young child development in the Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, Senegal, Ghana and Nigeria

  • Applicants must be networks or advocacy groups, grassroots organizations, professional associations, registered women’s groups, or coalitions of ECD actors with demonstrable experience in the thematic areas outlined above.

  • Proven working experience in community-based interventions or promotion/outreach activities and/or other relevant activities related to early childhood development.

  • Evidence of strong partnership with local communities, local authorities and/or government agencies in previous activities

  • Be registered with a clear governance structure.

  • Have a secretariat that runs the day-to-day affairs.

  • Be based in either Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, Senegal, Ghana and Nigeria

Duration of the Award

The tenure of the seed grant will be for a duration of one year

Application Process

Send in your application with the subject line: “Advocacy Seed Grant 2025” by 1st September 2025 to the following email: seedgrants@afecn.org

You will be required to attach the following documents:

  • Cover letter stating how the grant aligns with your strategic plan and motivation for application.

  • Project proposal of not more than 5 pages including a detailed time and workplan.

  • Fill out and attach Appendix 1

Master of Early Child Development (MECD)

📣 Opportunity Alert for ECD Professionals!

Early Child Development (ECD) is a critically important field, with investment in ECD recognized as both a moral imperative and a strategic pathway towards achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Addressing the need for building human resource capacity, Aga Khan University – Human Development Programme (AKU-HDP) is offering a graduate program in ECD designed to equip professionals with a comprehensive range of integrated knowledge and skills to enhance their practices. The MECD program will prepare students through a multidisciplinary, blended approach encompassing education, service, and research. By creating an advanced knowledge base, the program aims to strengthen human resource capacity and promote increased investment in ECD.

Request for Proposals (RFP): Website Upgrade for the African Early Childhood Network (AfECN)

Request for Proposals (RFP): Website Upgrade for the African Early Childhood Network (AfECN) 

Issued by: African Early Childhood Network (AfECN) 

Date: 20 February 2025 

Submission Deadline: 7 March 2025

The African Early Childhood Network (AfECN) invites qualified vendors to submit proposals for the redesign and upgrade of its website. This project aims to enhance AfECN’s communication infrastructure to better serve its mission of advocating for equitable Early Childhood Development (ECD) policies and programs across Africa. The new website seeks to improve user experience and integrate new features including a central hub for knowledge sharing and enhanced stakeholder engagement.

Submit proposals electronically to careers@afecn.org by 7 March 2025.

JOB OPPORTUNITY: RESEARCH, MONITORING EVALUATION AND LEARNING MANAGER

As AfECN continues to expand its impact, effective monitoring and evaluation (M&E) of its projects and initiatives it is critical in assessing progress, understanding outcomes, and ensuring that evidence is used to shape policies and practices.

Purpose of the Role: The Research Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Manager will play a key role in supporting this goal by designing, implementing, and managing a robust M&E framework that tracks the effectiveness of AfECN’s initiatives and guides organizational learning.

OPPORTUNITY: RESOURCE MOBILIZATION CONSULTANT

The Resource Mobilization Consultant (RMC) will be responsible for the development and capacity building to support implementation of AfECN’s fundraising strategy. The RMC will support establishment of systems to support overall coordination, planning, development, and management of a public and private sector fundraising strategy to mobilize resources and support accountability and transparent reporting.

OPPORTUNITY FOR A PROGRAMME OFFICER!!

AfECN   would like to recruit a Programme Officer to support its work in strengthening multisectoral advocacy and sub-regional coordination mechanism in WCAR.  The broader tasks include i) supporting stronger engagement of regional and national ECD partners; contributing to improved organizational and advocacy capacities of National Advocacy Partners (NAPs); increased knowledge generation on Early Childhood Education and dissemination across the region.

Contract: 1 year (Renewable based on performance and availability of funds)

Working Hours: Full time – 37.5 hours a week

Location: Dakar, Senegal

Application procedure: Interested candidates who meet the desired qualifications should submit cover letter, Curriculum Vitae (CV), motivation statement (max 2 pages), testimonials, copies of academic transcripts as a single PDF document to careers@afecn.org. Only successful candidates will be contacted.

Application Deadline: 22nd August 2023

Call for Expressions of Interest for Early Childhood Development Advocacy Groups/Networks

Call for Expressions of Interest for Early Childhood Development Advocacy Groups/Networks

📢Are you a grassroots advocacy group seeking to make a difference in the development of young children?

We are currently accepting application for seed grants to support your efforts.

⏳: 14 SEPTEMBER 2023

Africa Early Childhood Research Fellowship Program

AfECN activities to improve research capacity are being led by a Regional Research Technical Team (RRTT) comprised of accomplished ECD scholars and researchers in the continent. AfECN is currently in the process of recruiting the 3rd Cohort which is planned to have four (4) junior research fellows. The first and second cohorts of Research Fellows were recruited in 2017 and 2018, respectively. The first cohort had 13 research fellows whereas the second cohort had seven (7) research fellows.

Application procedure:

Qualified and interested applicants are invited to complete and send in their application by Monday Aug 30, 2020 (11:59 GMT+3). The applications and any inquiries should be submitted to the following address: research@afecn.org.

Application form: Click here

Les activités de l’AfECN visant à améliorer les capacités de recherche sont dirigées par une équipe technique régionale de recherche (ETRR) composée d’universitaires et de chercheurs éminents en DPE sur le continent. L’AfECN est actuellement en train de recruter la 3e cohorte qui devrait compter quatre (4) boursiers de recherche juniors. La première et la deuxième cohortes de boursiers de recherche ont été recrutées en 2017 et 2018, respectivement. La première cohorte comptait 13 boursiers de recherche, tandis que la deuxième cohorte comptait sept (7) boursiers de recherche.

Procédure de candidature :

Les candidats qualifiés et intéressés sont invités à remplir et à envoyer leur dossier de candidature au plus tard le lundi 31 août 2020 (11:59 GMT+3). Les candidatures et toute demande de renseignements doivent être envoyées à l’adresse suivante : research@afecn.org.

Formulaire de candidature: cliquez ici

Integrated Healthcare for Children with Developmental Disabilities

Dear all,We are pleased to announce the second run of this free online course from the International Centre for Evidence in Disability at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. If you have a moment please do share across your networks…

Dear all,

We are pleased to announce the second run of this free online course from the International Centre for Evidence in Disability at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. If you have a moment please do share across your networks. This run will also benefit from free upgrading for learners from LMICs, providing unlimited access and the opportunity to achieve the end of course certificate.

Register for the course here: https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/children-with-developmental-disabilities

Integrated Healthcare for Children with Developmental Disabilities

Over this 3 week course, we will explore how to deliver appropriate, high-quality healthcare for children with development disabilities.

By the end of the course you will able to:

> Describe developmental disability and the impact of impairment on children and their families

> Explain how early intervention can improve long-term outcomes for children with developmental disabilities

> Identify the specialist and general healthcare needs of children with developmental disabilities

> Investigate the barriers and solutions to improve a child's access to healthcare services

> Explore the importance of working in equal partnership with children and their families

> Reflect on the broader needs and fundamental rights of children with developmental disabilities

> Discuss how to collaborate with other service providers


Join the conversation on social media: Use the hashtag #FLhealthchilddisability to join social media conversations from across the globe.

Register for the course here: https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/children-with-developmental-disabilities

Many thanks,

Nathaniel Scherer | Research Assistant | International Centre for Evidence in Disability

London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine | Keppel St | London WC1E 7HT | United Kingdom