MADRASA EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMME

Project: Improving the wellbeing of boys and girls aged 0-8 in Kampala, Wakiso and Mukono Districts of Central Uganda

Introduction

The purpose of this Terms of Reference is to provide a framework for planning and conducting training to VHTs and Caregivers (Counsellors) for the Improving the wellbeing of boys and girls aged 0-8 in Kampala, Wakiso and Mukono Districts of Central Uganda project to come up with sustainable strategies that will support VHTs continue supporting households post project activities.

Organization Background

The Madrasa Early Childhood Program Uganda (MECPU), a government recognized and registered local organization established in 1993 with an objective of enabling communities to establish and sustain their own Early Childhood Education (ECE) centres. MECPU is an initiative of Aga Khan Foundation that focuses its work on supporting children aged 0 to 8 years to enable them get a good start in life. Over the years MECPU, has supported the establishment and sustainable operations of 145 community-based early childhood centers benefiting over 75,000 children in seven districts in Central Uganda. With an office in Kampala, MECPU has trained over 3,300 ECD caregivers; and engaged over 25,000 parents.

Project Description

Through its work MECPU engages parents and this is largely because parents are essentially first responders to children’s physical and cognitive wellbeing. It is therefore paramount to build the capacity of parents/caregivers to support all domains of child development and learning – physical, emotional, social and cognitive and skills on health, nutrition, care and stimulation. This is done via the Village Health Teams (VHTs) who are the primary agents working with the parents/caregivers of children aged 0-3, with a role of providing information on health and nutrition initiatives. In addition to that MECPU using the UNICEF/WHO approved Care for Child Development (CCD) model, thought it fitting to train the VHTs on communication and cognitive stimulation. The VHTs conduct monthly visits to support parents. To ensure sustainability of the effects of the intervention MECPU would like to partner with other organizations/ individuals/training consultant to provide training and other income opportunities to approximately 80 VHTs as a strategy of creating incentives for their work.

Duration of the training and timeline.

The training is expected to start on 16^th March 2020 for an estimated duration of 3 working days. This will include training and report writing.

Activity, Deliverable and Time allocated

Inception meeting Initial briefing with selected consultant – Inception Report – Half – day

Conducting the training in selected Venues – Training report – 3 days

Finalization of training report – Final Report – Half – day

Total – 4 days

Responsibilities of the Training Consultant

An inception report: The consultant will prepare an inception report, which details the consultant and the AKF understanding of the scope of work.

Conducting training; The consultant will conduct a 3 days’ training for the selected participants on any skill that VHTs can do for an income. These may include but not limited to;

• Fruit jam making
• Cakes/Daddies Advantage
• Paper bags Advantage
• Organic manure
• Organic bar soap
• Insect repellent soap
• Liquid soap
• Beads