In a significant move towards improving early childhood development, UNICEF, in collaboration with Springboard Communication Consultants, hosted a highly impactful three-day intensive training program in West Pokot County, aimed at strengthening the capacity of local stakeholders to implement and promote the Nurturing Care for Early Childhood Development (Nurturing Care) framework.
The training, held at a Kapenguria hotel, brought together multi-sectoral experts, educators, community leaders, and policymakers, focusing on equipping participants with the knowledge and tools necessary to advocate for and integrate the framework into local programs.
This initiative marks a significant step in promoting the well-being of children across Kenya, supporting UNICEF’s ongoing efforts to foster better social behaviour change approaches and community engagement for our children to not only survive, but to thrive and achieve their full potential.
According to an officer from Springboard Communication Consultants, Esther Kariuki, the training is crucial for enabling local communities to better nurture the care of their children.
“As a county, it’s essential that we do better in nurturing the care of our children, especially considering the pressing challenges many children face in terms of health, nutrition, and security,” Kariuki emphasized.
Kariuki emphasized the critical need for local stakeholders to adopt a holistic approach to child care, integrating positive parenting, health and nutrition actions with early childhood development efforts to address the region’s unique challenges.
Kariuki further stressed the need for cross-sector collaboration to ensure that children in West Pokot and similar regions, have access to quality care, early learning opportunities, nutrition and protection from a young age.
“It is through working together across healthcare, education, and social protection sectors that we can ensure children receive the nurturing care they deserve and build a strong foundation for their futures,” she said.
Kariuki highlighted the importance of collaborative efforts in overcoming the challenges faced by children in West Pokot, in all areas of nurturing care including responsive caregiving, early stimulation, health, nutrition and protection.
“The best way to meet these challenges is by coming together, having open conversations and taking coordinated action,” she added.
On his part, the Deputy County Director of Medical Services, Solomon Tukei, stressed the need to scale social behaviour change across key areas such as the community, schools, and health institutions.
“For sustainable development and positive outcomes in early childhood care, it is essential that we promote behaviour change within all levels of society. By embedding these practices in our communities, schools, and healthcare systems, we can foster a supportive environment for children to thrive,” he said.
He also emphasized the importance of targeting specific departments, such as education, childhood development, the Ministry of Social Services, and the Ministry of Gender to effectively integrate the principles of nurturing care into the community.
“Collaboration across these departments is vital in ensuring that the nurturing care framework is not just a concept, but a reality woven into the fabric of our society,” he added.
He said participants were taken through various stages and applications of strategies on Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) focused on social behaviours change, which provided participants with practical tools for fostering positive change within their communities, schools, and health institutions.
“This practical application of CBC strategies equips stakeholders with actionable steps to create real impact, guiding them in driving social behaviour change that benefits children and their development,” he stated.
Tukei shared his optimism for the long-term benefits of the training, saying as a county, they are looking forward to the positive impact the training will have, stressing that they believe it will greatly benefit them and the entire community, leading to a positive change in health-seeking behaviour.
“We believe that it will greatly benefit us and the entire community, leading to a positive change in health-seeking behaviour,” Tukei stressed.
He emphasized that the training not only aimed to enhance the professional skills of the stakeholders, but also sought to influence the broader community’s attitudes toward health and child development.
The event offered local professionals an opportunity to deepen their understanding of early childhood development and its critical role in shaping the future of the community.
By Agneta Chebet
