Project in support of ECD sector announced

The Covid-19 pandemic and the lockdown had a devastating impact on the Early Childhood Development (ECD) sector in South Africa.

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In response, Ilifa Labantwana, an NGO working to secure an equal start for all children living in South Africa, implemented an ambitious project to assist the ECD sector to reopen and recover from the impacts of the crisis.

“In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, ECD programmes were at risk of closure and the workforce was facing job losses and severe income insecurity. Children were threatened by acute food insecurity and the ECD sector was on its knees.

“There was an urgent need to address the humanitarian crisis by reaching vulnerable children with nutrition, supporting the workforce and ECD programmes to meet the Covid-19 compliance protocols.

“Through this project, we also wanted to tackle broader systemic issues that show how unregistered ECD programmes can be supported and also show how young children could be reached with nutrition through ECD programmes,” said Zaheera Mohamed, CEO of Ilifa Labantwana.

By adopting an evidence-based approach, Ilifa Labantwana mobilised resources and strategic partnerships to support the ECD sector.

It secured R36-million from four funders, The ELMA Foundation, Allan Gray Orbis Foundation Endowment, the Standard Bank Tutuwa Community Foundation and the DG Murray Trust and launched the ECD Covid-19 response project.

Ilifa Labantwana worked with three NGO partners to implement the project, SmartStart, The Unlimited Child and Violence Prevention through Urban Upgrading (VPUU).

The project focused on four key components from September 2020 to May 2021:
• A voucher programme that provided digital vouchers, used to financially assist ECD staff through the crisis and provide nutritious food for thousands of vulnerable children through ECD programmes
• Compliance support packs comprised of the goods required for ECD programmes to meet reopening protocols, including sanitiser, cleaning products and PPE
• Water support was provided to selected ECD sites based on the assessment of their needs
• Monitoring, evaluation and learning activities were fundamental to ensure project fidelity and to provide evidence for lessons and policy implications on systemic questions for the sector

The project demonstrated that NGOs can play a key intermediary role in supporting ECD sites at scale.

It also indicated that, with some support, unregistered ECD sites can serve as nutrition hubs for young children and that there is potential in the use of digital voucher systems to channel funds to ECD programmes.

“Ilifa Labantwana recognises that a long-term strategy is crucial to improve the sustainability and quality of ECD services, both in the interests of young children and to ensure sustainable livelihoods for the women providing services to them.

“A multi-sectoral approach has to be adopted to involve all sectors of society including those concerned with education, health, jobs, food, civil society organisations, faith-based organisations, community leaders, councillors and government.

“Therefore, the findings and lessons documented through this project are important to share with the public,” said Mohamed.

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