The Frontier Counties Development Council (FCDC) has concluded a three-day training on Gender Transformative Strategies for Early Childhood Development (ECD), equipping county officials and stakeholders with practical skills to promote gender equality and inclusive opportunities for children aged 0–8 years.
The training, held at Dusit Hotel in Nairobi, was supported by the Aga Khan University Institute for Human Development (AKU-IHD) and brought together participants from FCDC counties and beyond.
It marked the final phase of a powerful training series that also covered ECD growth and development as well as disability inclusion.
Speaking during the closing session, Prof. Amina Abubakar, Director of AKU’s Institute for Human Development, urged participants to sustain the momentum beyond the training room.
The training builds on priorities discussed during the 6th ECD Conference, where Prof. Abubakar highlighted the urgent need to support young mothers and caregivers.
“One statistic that really stood out is that in many areas, women are becoming mothers before the age of 18. We need to invest in families to be able to provide nurturing care,” she said.
She stressed that support systems for young mothers, coupled with better data collection and monitoring, are essential for guiding ECD investments.
“We need to get data to know what the situation is and where we need to do more. But most importantly, we must track our investment – are we putting in money and getting better outcomes?” she posed, adding that technology can play a transformative role in effective monitoring.
Participants expressed strong commitment to applying the skills learned in advancing inclusive, gender-responsive, and disability-aware ECD programs across the region.
The training underscored the philosophy that “Small Effort, Big Return”, emphasising that investments in early childhood yield lifelong benefits for children, families, and communities.
With this renewed capacity, FCDC counties are expected to integrate gender equality and inclusivity more strongly into their ECD strategies, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to thrive regardless of background or ability.