Dodoma Tanzania- 16 October 2024
Implementation of the National Multi-sectoral Early Childhood Development Programme (NMECDP) 2021/22-2025/26 Requires Transformative Leadership for Meaningful Subnational Coordination. Spark Health Africa's Debut in Tanzania: Championing Transformative Leadership for the ECD Agenda
The strategic collaboration between the Government of Tanzania specifical the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), President's Office, Regional Administration and Local Government Tanzania (PO-RALG), Ministry of Community Development, Gender, Women and Special Group (MoCDGWSG), Spark Health Africa, and the Tanzania ECD Network marks a critical effort in advancing the operationalization of the National Multi-sectoral Early Childhood Development Programme (NMECDP).
Spark Health Africa’s 18-month project, funded by the Hilton Foundation, is focused on fostering transformative leadership and cultural change at the council level, particularly in Bahi DC, Chamwino DC, Kongwa DC, and Dodoma City in the Dodoma region. This partnership aims to reshape how services for young children are coordinated and delivered.
By embedding transformative leadership practices into the management structures of these councils, the collaboration promotes a culture of cross-sectoral integration. This approach ensures that key sectors—health, education, nutrition, and child protection—work cohesively to meet the holistic needs of young children and their families. Such alignment with the NMECDP’s objectives is expected to directly improve early childhood outcomes across these regions.
Spark Health Africa’s entry into Tanzania, in collaboration with the Tanzania ECD Network and the government, brings a wealth of technical expertise essential for strengthening the NMECDP's coordination framework. This includes enhancing governance mechanisms, building institutional capacity, and fostering data-driven decision-making processes. By aligning with national priorities and collaborating with both state and non-state actors, Spark Health Africa will support the streamlining of resource mobilization, improve monitoring and evaluation systems, and promote accountability in delivering early childhood development (ECD) services.
The partnership's transformative approach, grounded in an integrated service delivery model, is expected to foster deeper engagement with stakeholders at all levels, from local councils to community-based organizations and regional authorities. This collaborative framework not only positions the initiative to achieve immediate results in the Dodoma region but also serves as a model for scaling successful interventions across the country, ensuring the long-term sustainability of ECD efforts in Tanzania.