With financial support from the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, HakiElimu is implementing the Promotion of ECD Accountability in Tanzania (PEAT) project. The overall goal of the PEAT project is to contribute to improved early childhood development outcomes for children aged 0–8 through the promotion of ECD accountability. The project has three main objectives:
1. Build a strong CSO movement to monitor and influence policy and practice on ECD.
HakiElimu is strengthening the Tanzania Early Childhood Development Network (TECDEN) and its member CSOs, ultimately building a powerful movement for influencing ECD policy and practice.
With experience and expertise in establishing and supporting the growth of various networks such as the Tanzania Education Network (TEN/MET), Policy Forum, the Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition (THRDC), and the Regional Education Learning Initiative (RELI Africa), HakiElimu aims to strengthen the role of civil society organizations (CSOs) in advocating for the inclusion of the Early Childhood Development (ECD) agenda in Tanzania’s Vision 2050. HakiElimu seeks to achieve this by implementing the following interventions:
- Build capacity and provide mentorship programs for TECDEN's secretariat and member organizations.
- Support TECDEN's secretariat in developing and implementing coordination frameworks to guide member CSOs in performing ECD activities.
- Provide training to CSOs on conducting social accountability monitoring on ECD programs, equipping CSOs with the skills to track progress, identify areas of improvement and hold the government accountable for its ECD Commitment. This evidence is crucial in informing policy recommendations and advocating for effective ECD interventions.
- Facilitate CSOs in utilizing the evidence obtained through SAM and other means to influence policy decisions effectively, including skills to engage with policymakers, presenting research findings and mobilizing public support for ECD Priorities.
- Foster a vibrant ECD community of practice that will serve as platform for knowledge exchange and collaborative problem solving.
2. Empower Citizens to engage in promoting Early Childhood Development.
In collaboration with TECDEN and ECD partners we work to ensure that Citizens are empowered and engage in promoting ECD in their respective communities. Some of significant key activities include:
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- Promoting Citizen awareness of the long-term benefits of investing in early childhood development and Government plans on ECD such as the National Multi sectoral Early Childhood Development Plans (NM-ECDP).
- Facilitating citizens in establishing ECD Community Working Groups to act as change agents in their community to advance Early Childhood Development
- ECD Partners support Community Working Groups using Public Expenditure Tracking Surveys (PETS)/Scorecard to monitor ECD services and resources and organize dialogues to share (PETS)/Scorecard Findings and make follow-ups on deliberations.
- ECD Partners collaborate with Community Working Groups to mobilize resources and support initiatives on ECD services in communities.
3. Improve childcare services for school-reintegrated teenage mothers.
Tanzania introduced Government Circular No. 2 of 2021, allowing teenage mothers to continue their education after delivery, as well as students who had dropped out for other reasons. The implementation guidelines were issued in February 2022. However, the initiative is facing several challenges, as revealed in a study conducted by HakiElimu in 2024. The study was guided by a two-factor generation framework focusing on the rights of teenage mothers and children.
To address these challenges, HakiElimu, in collaboration with like-minded ECD partners, is implementing the following activities:
- Producing information, education, and communication (IEC) materials and running public campaigns through mainstream and social media platforms.
- Mobilizing community members through established community groups to promote the creation of childcare centers as part of realizing children’s rights.
- Strengthening the capacity of community groups and childcare center workers to understand and apply the guidelines for establishing and operating childcare centers.