INVESTING IN EARLY YEARS FOR GROWTH AND PRODUCTIVITY

                                              Picture of a CBCC under the project by project

The Investing in Early Years for Growth and Productivity is a project that is funded by the World Bank to the tune of US$60 Million. The Project Development Objective (PDO) is to improve coverage and utilization of early childhood development services, with focus on nutrition, stimulation and early learning, from conception to 59 months in selected districts of Malawi. The districts implementing IEYP are: Zomba, Likoma, Mangochi, Machinga, Chikwawa, Chiradzulu, Thyolo, Mwanza, Neno, Mchinji, Dowa, Ntcheu and Rumphi. These districts were selected based on poor nutrition indicators and lack of partner organizations to support early childhood development and nutrition interventions.

 The Project is also strengthening health and nutrition activities within CBCCs and Primary Health Centers (PHCs).The primary target groups for community-based nutrition and early stimulation interventions include pregnant and lactating women, adolescent girls and 0-36 month’s old children. On the other hand, the early learning interventions is targeting 36-59 months old children. The project has four main components namely; Community-based nutrition and early stimulation interventions; Centre-based early learning, nutrition and health interventions; Multi-sectoral coordination, capacity and system strengthening; Contingent emergency response.

The project is construction 150 model CBCCs, drilling boreholes and equipping with play and stimulation materials, promoting CBCC garden, training caregivers, mentors and CBCC management Committee. Additionally, Interactive Radio Instruction is another initiative in the project where children aged 5years who will be transiting to primary learn through radio’