Every day the numbers testing positive for COVID-19 rise and countries around the world face new realities. If there is anything this crisis has reinforced, it is that there are no real borders. We are all interconnected.
All Together: Responding to the Crisis
March 19, 2020
We all stand together during these difficult times. Some live in countries in the middle of the pandemic, others live in countries where the pandemic may be in an earlier stage. Hopefully preparedness and response systems are well underway.
People who work on behalf of young children and families are a very giving and “can do” group. Because many of you work with families every day, you understand the conditions they face, particularly during times of economic and social stress. This makes your role in this current crisis even more important.
Yet things seem to be changing fast; nothing seems the same as it was even last week. Like so many you may wake up every day and wonder, “What do I do now? How can I protect my own family? What else can I do to make a difference? What can I do to support families and promote nurturing care?”
There are no easy answers here and no simple solutions. But we can renew our commitment to:
Staying healthy- The messages about staying healthy are everywhere- from washing hands to social distancing. These actions are not just for our personal well-being but are acts of social solidarity. When you safeguard your own health -- both physically and emotionally -- you are contributing to a healthier and safer world.
Protecting Children- In an emergency, all children, and particularly young children are at risk. They are at risk for being left unattended, left in crowded conditions, with lack of access to clean water and sanitation, health care and adequate nutrition. Emergency preparedness means helping to find safe places for children in the community, working across sectors and giving voice to the conditions that children are experiencing.
Supporting Families- We all know that child wellbeing is directly related to the wellbeing of their family. The conditions of the caregivers either enable nurturing care or can undermine it. In our field, we value families and communities. We know it is the local community organizations, civic and faith based groups that provide the social fabric that helps enable families to support their children. These are the exact organizations that need resources and encouragement.
Speaking out- Now is the time to find your voice. It is a time for government investments to support families and protect children. Where the public sector was not providing such support before, they need to do it now. Where there are disruptions in schools, child care, family income and social safety nets, advocates for children have to document those needs and continue to stand up in a very visible way for the rights of children to safety and security.
Finally, you may be spending more and more time helping others and feeling a lot of stress yourself. During times of crises, when things seem particularly difficult, we all have to find something positive to think about during the day: reflect on a good memory or look at a beautiful picture, listen to a favorite song, or walk in the sunshine.
While we can’t hold hands right now, we can get up each day and keep moving forward. We can give voice to the needs of children, families and the communities we love. The bottom line is that we are all in this together.
- A reflection by Joan Lombardi, PhD, an international expert on Child and Family Policy
Nurturing Care Panel at ECSA 69th Health Minister’s Conference
“Investing in early childhood is an investment in our future” these were the words of Honorable Dr Chitalu Chilufya, Minster of Health, Republic of Zambia upon visiting AfECN’s exhibition at the recently concluded 69th Health Ministers Conference of the East, Central & Southern Africa Health Community.
Education Ministers make decisions on Early Childhood during AU Third Specialized Committee on Education Science and Technology
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. 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
Early Years Fellowship recruitment now open through October 11
Dear Colleagues,
I am very pleased to announce the launch of a new recruitment round for the Early Years Fellowship and I request your help to disseminate this announcement to promising candidates. We graduated our first cohort of Fellows from 15 countries in Africa in June 2019 and are now expanding the program globally to more than 30 countries (see list below)
Countries and Eligibility
Applicants will work in their home countries and must be between the ages of 25 and 40.
We will be accepting applications for the following countries: Angola/Sao Tome & Principe, Brazil, Botswana/ Lesotho/Eswatini, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Egypt, El Salvador/ Honduras/ Nicaragua, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana/Liberia/Sierra Leone, Jordan/West Bank/Gaza, Madagascar, Morocco, Mozambique/ Seychelles/Mauritius/Comoros, Mali, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Republic of Congo/ Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Serbia/North Macedonia, Tunisia, Uganda.
Background on the Early Years Fellowship and Program Design
The Early Learning Partnership (ELP) launched the Early Years Fellowship in 2017 to support governments and World Bank teams to scale up investments in the early years with the following objectives:
Improve the quality of ECD analytical work and project design and implementation by increasing the availability of experienced professionals to advise and support governments and World Bank teams;
Build in-country capacity and reduce reliance on international technical assistance and ensure sustainable, contextually-specific and informed responses to scaling up ECD at country level; and,
Develop the next generation of leaders to scale up investments in the early years and raise the profile of the ECD sub-sector as a viable and prestigious field of study and work.
Fellows spend 20 percent of their time enrolled in a professional development program designed to strengthen their technical skills in ECD and their understanding of World Bank operations. The remaining 80 percent of their time is dedicated to a country-specific work program to work across sectors to support ECD.
How to Apply
Recruitment is now open and the due date to submit an application is October 11th. The announcement is available here along with a video, FAQs and Terms of Reference for each country position.
The application form can be accessed here.
We look forward to receiving many applications. We regret we will not be able to answer questions via email or to speak by phone. We recommend all interested candidates to go to the website to read the information and FAQs.
Sincerely,
Amanda E. Devercelli
Global Lead for Early Childhood Development
Program Manager for the Early Learning Partnership
Journal on Education in Emergencies (JEiE) Webinar
WEBINAR DETAILS
JEiE Webinar - Publishing Practitioners’ Notes from the Field
October 2nd, 2019 9:30 AM New York (GMT-01:30 PM)
Duration: 1 hour
Event Link: https://rescue.zoom.us/j/146770277
This webinar is geared especially towards practitioners, but all are welcome to attend. During this time, members of the JEiE Editorial Team will present an overview of JEiE’s scope and aims, publication requirements, and what we look for in field notes manuscripts. Each webinar will also have an open Q&A section.
Additionally, we are excited to have JEiE Editorial Board Member, Dr. Sweta Shah, co-hosting this webinar. Dr. Shah will share her insights from her experience successfully guiding manuscripts from the field through the peer review process.
Dr. Joan Lombardi and Dr. Sweta Shah, our guest editors for the upcoming Special Issue on Early Childhood Development in Emergencies, as well as the JEiE Editorial Team are very interested in your submissions and believe that this webinar may contain relevant information about the submission and review process.
Further details about accessing the webinar can be found below and on our website. Additional details on our submission process and guidelines can be found here. Please reach out to me and our editorial team at journal@ineesite.org, with any questions.
Sneha Bolisetty | Editorial Assistant
ECE High level Side Event at TICAD VII
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.
SAVE THE DATE – High-Level ECE Side Event at TICAD VII 28th -30th August 2019 in Yokohama, Japan
A child’s most important steps happen before they set foot in a primary school. By their fifth birthday, children’s brains are 90% developed and the foundations for success at school and in later life are in place. This makes a child’s early years a critical window of opportunity – to set the foundations for life-long success, first at school, and later in life.