UNICEF Backs Early Childhood Network

The Government of Sierra Leone, through the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, in partnership with UNICEF and other development partners, has officially launched the Sierra Leone Early Childhood Development Network, a new platform designed to strengthen coordination, collaboration and investment in services for children during their earliest years.

The network was launched on Tuesday, 15 September 2026, bringing together government officials, development partners, civil society organisations, academia and other child-focused stakeholders around a shared vision of ensuring that every child in Sierra Leone has access to nurturing care, protection, health, nutrition and quality early learning opportunities.

The initiative comes at a time when increasing attention is being placed on the importance of the first years of a child’s life as the foundation for learning, development and lifelong wellbeing.

‘Early Childhood Is the Foundation’

Speaking at the launch, the Chief Education Officer in the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education described the new network as a platform capable of shaping the future of Sierra Leone by shaping the lives of its youngest citizens.

She said early childhood represents the foundation of learning, growth and character, stressing that nurturing children during their formative years is an investment in the future of the nation.

According to her, the network is not merely another programme but a collective movement aimed at ensuring that every child, regardless of where they are born, has access to quality, inclusive and sustainable early childhood services.

She emphasised that achieving this objective cannot be the responsibility of one ministry or institution alone.

Instead, she called for stronger coordination among government ministries and agencies, civil society organisations, development partners, academia, communities and families.

She said stakeholders must work together to create a comprehensive support system that brings together health, nutrition, child protection, play-based learning, gender equality and family support, while integrating these elements into the education system.

She also commended the African Early Childhood Network (AfECN), ADRA, RNC, UNICEF and other partners for their contributions to the establishment of the platform.

The Chief Education Officer reaffirmed government’s commitment to advancing early childhood development and said the network should serve as a platform for advocacy, knowledge-sharing and innovation.

She further called for the establishment of more early childhood development centres across the country, noting that every child deserves a safe place to grow, play, learn and develop their potential.

Melody Martin Highlights Collective Responsibility

Making a presentation on Early Childhood Education, Mrs Melody Martin reiterated that early childhood development is central to shaping Sierra Leone’s future.

She said the early years provide the foundation for learning, character development and lifelong growth, adding that investing in children at this stage is effectively investing in the country’s future.

Mrs Martin said the network would promote access to quality, inclusive, equitable and sustainable early childhood development services for children regardless of their circumstances or place of birth.

She stressed that achieving this vision requires strong collaboration among government ministries and agencies, civil society organisations, development partners, academia, community leaders, families and other stakeholders.

She called for a comprehensive support system encompassing health, nutrition, child protection, play-based learning, gender equality and family support.

She also praised AfECN, ADRA, RNC, UNICEF and other partners whose support contributed to the launch of the network.

UNICEF: Give Every Child the Best Start

UNICEF Country Representative Mariko Kagoshinra described the launch as more than the inauguration of a new platform, saying it represented a shared commitment to giving Sierra Leone’s youngest children the best possible start in life.

She said early childhood development should address the needs of the whole child from the beginning, including good health and nutrition, protection and safety, responsive caregiving, play, early stimulation and opportunities to learn.

She further noted that quality, play-based pre-primary education can help children develop confidence, curiosity and social skills while laying the foundations for successful learning both in school and later in life.

According to her, Sierra Leone has already taken important steps through its National Early Childhood Development Policy and its alignment with the global Nurturing Care Framework.

She said this provides a foundation for integrating services from birth through the early years while strengthening the connection between early childhood development, early learning and school readiness.

Mrs Kagoshinra described the new network as a practical space where stakeholders can share experiences, identify what works, address challenges collectively and connect services across homes, communities, health facilities and early learning centres.

She acknowledged the support of the Global Partnership for Education and the Government of Iceland in expanding early learning services across Sierra Leone.

According to her, the partnership has supported nearly 4,500 pre-primary teachers, reached more than 8,000 children through early childhood education programmes and contributed to the construction of 68 ECE centres.

She stressed that the collective responsibility now is to ensure that every child, particularly vulnerable children and those living in underserved communities, receives appropriate support during the critical early years.

First Lady: ‘Children Should Not Depend on Chance’

Officially launching the network, First Lady Dr Fatima Bio underscored the importance of placing children at the centre of national development.

She said the true measure of a country should not be judged only by its buildings, roads, economy or natural resources, but also by how it cares for its children.

According to Dr Bio, Sierra Leone’s future begins with its children, and that future starts long before a child enters the classroom.

She said a child’s development begins in the home through the care of parents and caregivers and is strengthened by the protection and support provided by the wider community.

Reflecting on her engagements with mothers and families across the country, the First Lady said one aspiration appeared to unite mothers regardless of their circumstances: the desire for their children to have a better life.

She recalled an encounter with a young mother who expressed the hope that, despite having little to give her child, her daughter would at least have a chance.

Dr Bio said the experience reinforced an important message: children should not have to depend on chance to determine their future.

Every Child Deserves a Strong Start

The First Lady stressed that a child’s future should not be determined by whether they were born in Freetown or a remote village, or whether their parents are wealthy or struggling.

She said every child deserves a strong start in life.

She described the National Early Childhood Development Network as more than another programme, saying it represents a statement about the kind of nation Sierra Leone seeks to build.

According to her, it is a declaration that every child matters and that no child should be forgotten, neglected or left behind because of where they were born.

She said the first years of life form the foundation upon which future development is built, as children begin during this period to develop their minds, confidence, emotional wellbeing and ability to learn and interact with others.

She therefore maintained that investing in early childhood development is an investment in the future of Sierra Leone.

‘It Takes a Village’

Quoting the African proverb that a child who is not embraced by the village will burn it down to feel its warmth, Dr Bio emphasised the collective responsibility of families, communities and the nation in raising children.

She said children are not the responsibility of mothers and fathers alone but belong to the wider family, community and ultimately the nation.

She called for every child to be embraced, nurtured, protected and given an opportunity to thrive.

The First Lady welcomed the participation of government, communities, development partners, civil society, health workers, educators and families, noting that no single institution can successfully address all the needs of children.

She said the task requires supported parents, trained and valued caregivers, teachers who understand the importance of the early years, health workers who can reach families, communities that protect children and leadership that places children at the centre of national development.

‘Children Are Our Responsibility’

Speaking from her perspective as a mother, Dr Bio said the wellbeing of Sierra Leone’s children must never be treated as somebody else’s responsibility.

She said the pain of seeing a child sick, hungry or unsafe is deeply felt by parents, while a child’s success brings immense pride.

She noted that Sierra Leone’s children are already present in every village, town and district and are looking to leaders for protection, opportunities, leadership and hope.

She urged stakeholders to invest in children before challenges become crises and to recognise that one of the country’s greatest resources is the potential within its children — their minds, dreams, talents and hopes for a better future.

She called for a Sierra Leone where a child can be born anywhere and still have opportunities to achieve their potential, where poverty does not determine what a child can become and where mothers receive the support necessary to give their children the best possible start.

As the network was launched, she called on stakeholders to put children first and ensure that today’s decisions create opportunities for future generations.

She concluded by urging everyone to remember that behind every policy, programme and statistic is a child with a name, a family, a dream and a future.

She prayed for Allah’s continued blessing, protection and guidance for the children of Sierra Leone.