From June 18 to June 20, 2025, the African Union (AU), in collaboration with the Africa Early Childhood Network (AfECN), hosted the Africa Conference on Childcare at the AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The conference, themed “Building Partnerships for Accelerating Action Towards Quality and Inclusive Childcare in Africa,” aimed to address the continent’s childcare challenges and promote early childhood development (ECD) across AU Member States (au.int).
🧒 Objectives and Significance
The conference sought to:
- Raise awareness and political commitment toward the childcare development agenda across Africa.
- Strengthen partnerships among governments, international organizations, civil society, and the private sector for improved childcare systems.
- Advocate for increased and sustainable funding, including domestic resource mobilization, to support childcare initiatives.
- Showcase best practices and innovative models from countries that have made strides in childcare development (au.int).
🎤 Key Sessions and Discussions
The conference featured a series of sessions and panel discussions, including:
- Ministerial Panels: Discussions led by ministers from various African countries, sharing insights on their government’s support for quality childcare services and multi-stakeholder collaborations (Concept Note PDF).
- Regional Landscape of Childcare: Presentations on the state of childcare in Africa, highlighting challenges and opportunities.
- Investing in Childcare: Sessions focusing on financing models and strategies to expand access to quality childcare services.
- Innovative Models: Showcasing successful case studies and innovative approaches in childcare programs across the continent (Concept Note PDF)
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