In Rwanda, Early Childhood Development (ECD) programs are implemented by both government institutions and civil society organizations (CSOs). ECD has been recognized as a key priority in the country’s child protection efforts, and greater engagement in this area is strongly encouraged.
Rwanda’s National Strategy for Transformation (NST2) prioritizes a multi sectoral, integrated Early Childhood Development (ECD) approach aimed at improving child well-being and educational outcomes. Key commitments include scaling up ECD centers nationwide, enhancing antenatal care, nutrition screening, and WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) services to reduce childhood stunting from 33% to below 15% by 2029. The strategy also targets a substantial increase in pre-primary enrollment, from 35% to 65%, placing ECD at the center of educational development efforts.
Effective ECD services must be holistic, addressing children’s health, nutrition, development, psychosocial support, education, child protection and other essential needs.
Rwanda’s integrated ECD model combining education, health, nutrition, and social protection has already boosted service coverage from 17% to 80% in four years and helped reduce stunting among under-fives from 44% to 33% between 2010 and 2019. By mid-2025, over 31,000 ECD centers were serving 1.16 million children aged 3–6, covering 78% of this age group. The government now plans to extend services to children starting at age two to strengthen the link between home care and institutional ECD.
Parents, communities, NGOs, and government agencies have a role in providing integrated services for children. Based on this understanding, the Coalition “Umwana ku Isonga” (CUI) organized a peer exchange learning and joint field visit to home based ECDs managed by one of its members namely PCCR (Parenting Child Care Rwanda) for the purpose to encourage other members to actively support and contribute to this important program for the well-being of children. The visit was conducted on 17th July 2025 at 4 home based ECDs in Cyerwa cell-Gashanda Sector-Ngoma District. Normally, PCCR has 38 home based ECDs in this sector which it supports in different ways.
CUI members were explained the functioning of home based ECDs. These ECDs accommodate children between 3-5 years and each accommodates between 15-25 children. Children are cared for by parents/caregivers, they are provided with porridge mixed with milk, balanced diet, drinking water. Parents/caregivers are trained on positive parenting, conflict resolution in families, child protection& safeguarding and nutrition.
