Insights from a Qualitative Study
Early childhood development (ECD) is a critical phase influencing children’s physical, socio-emotional, cognitive, and linguistic growth, with profound implications for lifelong outcomes. In Tanzania, many families face challenges in balancing childcare and work demands, leaving children vulnerable to violence, neglect, and missed developmental opportunities. To address these gaps, the Government of Tanzania (GoT), through the National Multisectoral Early Childhood Development Programme (NM-ECDP), is establishing affordable, high-quality ECD centres for children aged 2 to under 5 (2–U5).
The Thrive Tanzania project complements this effort by generating evidence to inform scalable ECD centre models tailored to local contexts. Following a literature review and national-level stakeholder workshops, a core set of principles for high-quality ECD centres was developed, emphasising minimum standards, financial affordability, and quality assurance.
Thrive Tanzania conducted a qualitative study in the Dodoma region to explore community and stakeholder perspectives on these principles, focusing on practical implementation. The findings and recommendations presented in this report aim to guide the creation of scalable, adaptable ECD centre models aligned with national guidelines, fostering environments where children can thrive and reach their full potential.