The Tanzania Early Childhood Development Network (TECDEN), as part of the Mtoto Kwanza Project consortium, which includes Children in Crossfire (CiC), the Union of Tanzania Press Clubs (UTPC), and the Government of Tanzania, has successfully completed the dissemination and orientation of the National Multi-Sectoral Early Childhood Development Programme 2021/22-2025/26 across all 26 regions in Tanzania.
The initiative involved collaboration with key government ministries, including the Ministry of Community Development, Gender, Women, and Special Groups (MOCDGWSGs), the President's Office of Regional Administration and Local Government (PORALG), the Ministry of Health (MOH), the Ministry of Home Affairs (MOHA), the Ministry of Education Science and Technology (MOEST), the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), and various Early Childhood Development (ECD) stakeholders. This marked a significant milestone in the Mtoto Kwanza project's journey, as it successfully extended its reach to all 26 regions in mainland Tanzania.
The dissemination process was closely aligned with the formation of regional task forces, which were instrumental in providing support for the program's launch and implementation. These task forces included representatives from the regional secretariat and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) operating across the regions.
Moreover, the project's support extended to 184 local councils, intensifying efforts to disseminate the NM-ECDP. This collaborative endeavor underscores a major step toward enhancing early childhood development services in Tanzania.