KARACHI: The Aga Khan University - Human Development Programme (AKU-HDP) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) to collaborate on the project ‘Reducing Inequalities by Enhancing Early Childhood Development for Vulnerable Population in Pakistan’.
The two-year contract was signed by Dr Salim Virani, AKU Vice Provost, Research and Unicef Country Representative Mr Abdullah Abdulaziz Fadil.
Mr Fadil said, “We need to make ECD an indigenous concept. The most basic caring practices are missing in our routine. We need to demystify ECD and bring ideas from the globe into it and work on them from within the community.”
In his remarks, Dr Salman Kirmani, Interim- Director at AKU-HDP said: “The project is a significant step towards ensuring that every child, regardless of their background, has the opportunity to thrive and reach their full potential. Together, we are committed to creating a brighter future for the children of Pakistan.”
The project will develop a comprehensive Early Childhood Development (ECD) manual that will provide guidance on all elements of the nurturing care framework as well as other cross-cutting themes for promoting the optimal development of children from birth to eight years.
The project will establish a sustainable network of ECD master trainers for ongoing knowledge dissemination.
The AKU-HDP will use existing data for decision-making to improve the outcomes of young children, as well as conduct operational research, generate evidence and knowledge management for decision-making to improve child development outcomes.
“Collaborations, such as the current partnership between UNICEF-Pakistan and AKU’s Human Development Programme,” says a press release.
Published in Dawn, June 13th, 2024
