Integrated Early Childhood Development: Using an Appreciative Approach in Uganda

From the Executive Summary:

"There is no doubt that the combination of Appreciative Inquiry (AI) and a multi-sectoral approach is a winning combination, not only for integrated Early Childhood Development (IECD) and the protection of child rights but for all aspects of service delivery and community development. The IECD project in Uganda is a bold initiative that has been particularly successful, because it builds on existing institutions, structures and good practice at all levels from village to district. From all our conversations with participants at all these levels, it is clear that the AI approach has created the energy, commitment and creativity to respond wholeheartedly and responsibly to the needs of young children in every village and community in which IECD has been introduced.

A key strength in the strategic design of the project as well as the application of AI itself is an embedded notion of action research. The continuous cycles of action and reflection ensure that lessons learnt [in Masaka] can be applied in the next phase of action [in Mbarara, Kasese, Arua, Nebbi in Northern Uganda, Tororo, Paliisa, Busia, and eastern Bugiri]. Senior managers, project facilitators, parish and village leaders, and the parents and families of the children, are unanimous, the project must continue and be taken to all villages in Uganda.

Taking the project to scale will require concerted action at National, district, sub-county, parish and village level. This will require sustained partnership, including all roll players both vertically and horizontally across all departments and including, elected and appointed government officials as well as non-government organizations, communities and families.

In order to protect child rights, it is necessary to consider the broader economic safety-net of individual families and communities. An important challenge of IECD is assisting families and communities in overcoming economic barriers to the well-being of their children. This might require access to poverty alleviation programmes, income generating activities as well as kitchen gardens. It will require effective co-ordination, monitoring and support, so that all available resources must be made available to duty-bearers to respond swiftly to the demands of rights claimants.

It is also necessary to consider livelihood in the broader global context of peace, justice and sustainability. IECD is an important poverty eradication strategy that can only be effective if the root causes of poverty are examined. This requires a paradigm shift so that we can begin to rebuild true security in an age of insecurity and recognize the multiple securities: ecological, economic, cultural and political. We need to build a culture that sustains and celebrates life, recognizing that we are all connected through love, compassion, ecological responsibility and economic justice. IECD has proved to be an excellent vehicle.

Introduction

1.2 Methodology of the technical review

The primary purpose of this technical review, one year after development work with communities began in Masaka is to support participants in telling their own story. A qualitative assets-based participatory approach was used, drawing on Appreciative Inquiry evaluation strategies....This evaluation process is grounded in several basic beliefs. The most important in this case, is an acknowledgement that there is no such thing as an objective observer..."Participant observers" played a key role in the process. The review team included an independent consultant, two Ugandan ECD [Early Child Development] Resource persons and a peer reviewer from South Africa. The Regional Office made available to the review team the Programme Communication Officer for EPI [expanded programme on immunisation], who is familiar with CCD [Center for Culture and Diversity], AI, and Human Rights Approach to communication. Members of the Kampala UNICEF office accompanied the team on some of the field visits. Key local district facilitators joined the team during each visit.

After a short initial team briefing, a framework was developed to guide the five-day field investigation. This was based on the belief that the intervention into any human system is fateful and that the system will move in the direction of the first questions that are asked. Team members agreed to use the framework flexibly and avoid taking on the role of inspectors. The aim of the exercise is to move the project towards its highest aspirations and best practice.

The primary focus of the technical review of IECD was in Masaka district. In addition the team visited two other districts of Kasese and Mbarara. Field journals and tape-recorded interviews were transcribed. The team met regularly during the field visit to reflect on observations and plan the focus for subsequent days.

After the field-visit a debriefing was held with representatives from the UNICEF [United Nations Children's Fund] Kampala and ESAR [Eastern and Southern Africa Region] offices as well as the Masaka district project team. An initial overview of findings was presented and discussed. Key issues were flagged for inclusion in the report. Drafts of the report were circulated for comment by the review team, before the final edit was undertaken..."