- Isiolo County has established a Multi-Sectoral Technical Working Group, becoming the first FCDC member county to create such a coordinated ECD structure.
- The group unites government, FCDC and Aga Khan University’s Institute for Human Development to accelerate early childhood development.
- A comprehensive ECDE policy framework prioritising health and nutrition is being developed, pending County Executive Committee approval.
Isiolo County has established a Multi-Sectoral Technical Working Group aimed at accelerating Early Childhood Development (ECD) programmes, uniting government, regional and academic partners under one coordinated framework.
The county has become the first among Frontier Counties Development Council (FCDC) members to set up such a structure. FCDC Chief Executive Officer Dr Idle Farah welcomed the development, saying it would tighten coordination among stakeholders and position Isiolo to guide peer counties on foundational education.
CECM for Health Services Luqman Ahmed echoed this sentiment, crediting Governor Guyo’s administration for steady progress on ECD in recent years, and thanked the Aga Khan Foundation and FCDC for their continued support. “The working group will bring state and non-state actors together to coordinate multi-sectoral engagement and accelerate progress on early childhood development countywide,” Luqman said.
For years, education, health, nutrition and welfare interventions for young children have often operated separately. This new working group changes that, replacing a fragmented, sector-by-sector approach with a single, coordinated strategy. The group brings together the county government, FCDC and the Institute for Human Development at Aga Khan University, each contributing distinct expertise to the initiative.
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According to Professor Amina Abubakar, Director of the Institute for Human Development at Aga Khan University, the partnership has already generated fresh evidence to guide policy and practice on child development. “The early years remain the most critical window for shaping a child’s lifelong physical, cognitive and emotional wellbeing,” Professor Amina said, calling for sustained investment in the sector.
County Secretary Dade Boru confirmed that health and nutrition will be prioritised within Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) programmes. A comprehensive policy framework is currently being developed, pending approval by the County Executive Committee, with a detailed action plan to follow once endorsed. “We are fully committed to building a strong, coordinated framework that guarantees every child access to quality early learning, health and nutrition services,” Boru said.
By Benedict Aoya
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