TECDEN Constitution of 2022
Summary of the TECDEN Constitution
The Constitution of the Tanzania Early Childhood Development Network (TECDEN) provides the legal and governance framework that guides the Network’s operations, membership structure, leadership, and accountability mechanisms. TECDEN is established as a Non‑Governmental Organization registered under the NGO Act No. 24 of 2002, with a mandate to coordinate and strengthen Early Childhood Development (ECD) stakeholders across Tanzania Mainland. Its headquarters are located in Dodoma, with operational coverage across all regions of Mainland Tanzania.
The Constitution outlines TECDEN’s vision—a society where all children are developmentally on track—and its mission, which emphasizes collaboration, advocacy, policy influence, and knowledge sharing to advance ECD initiatives for children aged 0–8 years. Its values include child rights protection, accountability, integrity, transparency, teamwork, and openness, forming the ethical foundation for the Network’s work. TECDEN’s overall goal is to coordinate and empower non‑state ECD actors to advance the national ECD agenda.
Membership is open to organizations aligned with ECD objectives, categorized as Regular, Affiliate, and Strategic Members. Regular members hold full governance rights, including voting, while the other categories participate without voting privileges. Members must comply with TECDEN policies, submit progress reports, pay fees, and actively support ECD efforts. Grounds for cessation include non‑payment of fees, misconduct, failure to report, and violation of child rights, with clear procedures for restoration.
Governance structures include Office Bearers (Chairperson, Vice‑Chairperson, and Executive Director), a Secretariat, and a Board of Directors. The Chairperson and Vice‑Chairperson are elected for three‑year renewable terms, while the Executive Director is recruited competitively for a tenure of ten (10) years. The Board, consisting of up to seven (7) members with gender‑inclusive representation, provides strategic leadership, approves plans and budgets, recruits senior staff, mobilizes resources, and oversees organizational performance and compliance.
The Annual General Meeting (AGM) serves as the highest decision‑making organ, responsible for approving budgets, constitutional amendments, Board appointments, and oversight of the Network’s leadership. Its quorum and voting procedures are clearly prescribed. Extraordinary General Meetings may be convened as needed
At the regional level, the Constitution establishes Regional ECD Coordination Units (RCUs) to coordinate ECD efforts within each region. These units are selected every three years and operate under TECDEN’s supervision to ensure effective decentralization of coordination functions.
Financial provisions outline diverse and legally compliant sources of funding—including fees, grants, fundraising, donations, and income‑generating activities—and stipulate that funds must be used strictly to advance TECDEN’s objectives. Bank account operations require dual signatories and strict internal controls to safeguard resources. The Constitution provides mechanisms for amendments, dissolution, and conflict resolution, including transferring assets to a similar NGO if TECDEN is dissolved.
Overall, the Constitution establishes a robust governance and operational framework designed to ensure accountability, inclusivity, transparency, and effective coordination of ECD stakeholders nationwide.
