The Inter Country quality Node for Early Childhood Development (ICQN-ECD) attended the Launching of the ECED Cluster of the Continental Education Strategy for Africa 2016-2025 (CESA 16-25) that took place that took place from 3 to 4 September 2018 at the African Union Commission.
The event brought together over 30 participants coming AU member States, AU member States agencies, RECs, continental organizations, partnerships and coalitions, CSOs, global organizations and agencies, education and training and research institutions, etc. The objective was to raise awareness on the importance of ECED, to share experiences, to review the ECED Terms of reference and to define a work plan that will guide the work of the Cluster.
Partners and RECS dedicated the first day of the meeting to presentations after which they recommended strong advocacy for education and responsibility of all members of the Clusters and their shared vision that are key to the Cluster success.
The second and last day was the opportunity to discuss the Cluster Terms of Reference, workplan and proposing the following coordinating:
- Cluster Chair: African Union Commission
- Cluster Co-Chair: ADEA Inter-Country Quality Node on Early Childhood Development (hosted in Mauritius)
- Cluster Co-Coordinator: African Early Childhood Network (AfECN)
After lecture of the communique and integration of additional elements, the document was adopted. All participants unanimously agreed to keep the ECED terminology because of the development idea, which is encompassed in CESA. This led to the official launch of the ECED.