The Government of Kiribati is interested in the concept of Island Child Development Coordinators. Individuals in these roles could build better knowledge of child health, development and early learning, and deliver or facilitate community playgroups. This project will research and advise on how best to implement the concept.
The concept of Island Child Development Coordinators is similar to the successful existing system of Island Education Coordinators. Such a role would directly respond to the newly endorsed and launched Kiribati National Child Development Policy.
The concept would provide for demand-based servicing of communities on the outer islands, and provide on-the-ground advocacy for the new policy with Island Authorities, the Maneaba, churches and the broader community.
Island Child Development Coordinators could build better knowledge of child health, development and early learning through the engagement of communities, for example:
- by supporting and building the capacity of the local public health nurse, community and church-run early childhood education and care (ECECs), and
- by providing a crucial link between the central government and communities.
This project will advise on the concept’s implementation, collaborating with the existing Island Education Coordinators as key partners for co-designing the model.
Importantly, it is envisaged that the Island Child Development Coordinators could deliver community playgroups themselves or facilitate them through existing community ECECs.
Playgroups are relatively low cost and positively impact caregiving practices and children’s health, development, and learning. However, existing models are rarely designed by those they intend to serve, undermining their sustainability.
Respecting core local values, such as reciprocity and consensus, this project would promote the development of a sustainable playgroup model. We would leverage work being undertaken in Tuvalu where playgroups are now being run out of existing preschools by preschool teachers.