Project Title: Research to inform innovative scalable Early Childhood Development programming for the next generation KIZAZI KIJACHO
Project Description: While important progress has been made in reducing under-five mortality in recent years, poor developmental outcomes for children under 5 can last a lifetime and perpetuate an intergenerational cycle of poverty and marginalization. There is a need for more frequent and precise measurement of all inputs and outcomes in the child development process, starting in the womb, so that we can better understand what interventions are most effective, when, and why. This project is carrying... While important progress has been made in reducing under-five mortality in recent years, poor developmental outcomes for children under 5 can last a lifetime and perpetuate an intergenerational cycle of poverty and marginalization. There is a need for more frequent and precise measurement of all inputs and outcomes in the child development process, starting in the womb, so that we can better understand what interventions are most effective, when, and why. This project is carrying out a ground-breaking six-year early childhood development research program in Tanzania which launched in March 2021. To address these challenges and fill the existing knowledge gaps, the Institute for International Economic Studies (IIES), Yale University, University of Chile, FAIR (NHH Norwegian School of Economics) and Ifakara Health Institute (IHI), in collaboration with implementing partners D-tree International, Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF) and EDI Global, are carrying out a groundbreaking six-year ECD research program in Tanzania entitled "Kizazi Kijacho" (The Next Generation). This program, launched in March 2021, will use novel longitudinal and experimental data from a nationally-representative sample to yield actionable evidence for policy makers, donors and practitioners about the design of cost-effective, scalable, sustainable, integrated ECD parenting programs, from the prenatal period until the child's 3rd year of life — the "first 1,000 days." The dataset they will generate will help to develop a detailed picture of how children from the poorer parts of Tanzania are developing from in the womb until age 3. In Tanzania, there is a particular need for such evidence, and momentum for such evidence to significantly impact ECD policymaking at scale. Since the launch of the National Multi-Sectoral ECD program (NM-ECDP) in December 2021, the Tanzanian government is exploring costeffective ways to integrate early learning and responsive caregiving counselling into ongoing health and nutrition community work done by CHWs. EGPAPs Matezi pilot program pioneered the integration of ECD counselling into existing CHW work. In light of these challenges, the project aims to use novel experimental data to yield actionable evidence for policymakers, donors and practitioners about the design of cost-effective, scalable, sustainable, integrated ECD parenting programs, from the prenatal period until the child's 2nd year of life - the "first 1,000 days".
Principal Investigator : Ester Elisaria
Department Name :
Time frame: (2023-08-01) - (2025-07-31)
Stockholm University (Normal)
External Collaborating Partners
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