Early Childhood Development Initiative – East and Southern Africa 2024-2027

The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation has invested in alleviating the socioeconomic predicament of vulnerable adolescent girls and young women (AGYW), a demographic in Kenya, Tanzania, and Mozambique that continues to experience major socio-economic and health challenges. As part of the initiative, the Foundation has provided grants to women-led community organizations in these countries.                                                                                                                              

To complement these initiatives, this project will document and assess the implementation experiences and outcomes and share learnings on the initiatives’ impact on the well-being of adolescent mothers and their young children. This learning grant will address all three objectives of the initiative to inform emergent learning among consortium partners, within the community, and in the global field in general. It will assist in the co-development of a learning agenda and theoretical framework to foster learning and dissemination in line with the project objectives and strategic learning questions. Additionally, it will assist in the design and execution of a participatory evaluation aligned with the project objectives, learning agenda, and key learning questions, as well as the dissemination and sharing of learnings throughout the evaluation period. These activities will be carried out in conjunction with the consortium and will involve the co-creation of a learning and dissemination plan that integrates reflection and shares learning both internally and externally throughout Kenya, Mozambique, Tanzania, and globally. While the consortium partners have brainstormed an initial set of strategic learning questions, ICRW as the learning partner will collaborate with them to hone and prioritize these questions, as well as co-develop a learning agenda to support both internal learning (for the consortium partners and the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation) and external advocacy efforts.

Lighting the Way: Inspiring International Center for Research on Women (ICRW) Learning Visit by the Condrad Hilton supported Early Childhood Development Initiative Participatory Learning Project

In a world where every challenge unlocks a new opportunity, the Condrad Hilton-supported Early Childhood Development Initiative Participatory Learning Project is rewriting the future for young mothers (11-18 years) and their children (0-3 years) across Kenya. Recent learning visits by the ICRW Africa team to the vibrant communities of Siaya and Nairobi have revealed a powerful narrative of resilience, empowerment, and transformation.

Revolution in Siaya: Crafting the Future with Resilience through the Young Mothers and Young Children Initiative

The Siaya Collaborative Cluster, which is a grantee of the Children’s Rights and Violence Prevention Fund supported by the Hilton Foundation, comprises the Siaya Muungano Network, Stawisha Africa Initiative, and the Siaya Young Women Alliance. Consortium partners are reshaping lives with high-impact interventions inclusive of digital literacy classes, vocational training, and income-generating programs like tailoring and organic farming, which are stepping stones to a brighter tomorrow. Beyond practical training, the established four safe spaces for over 150 young mothers provide a nurturing environment where mentorship and community support spark hope, fuel dreams, and provide a second chance to a life free of stigmatization and perpetual condemnation associated with early motherhood. Moreover, these young mothers are changing the narrative by telling their own stories, creating interventions that are relevant to their context, and facilitating cultural shifts through intergenerational dialogues.

At the forefront of this transformation are the Community Health Promoters and young mothers’ peer mentors. These dedicated champions serve as the first line of support, connecting young mothers with essential healthcare, counseling, mentorship, and reproductive health services. With a focus on trust and confidentiality, their grassroots efforts are proving that when communities come together, even the toughest challenges such as teenage pregnancies can be overcome.

Empower Her in Nairobi: Breaking Barriers, Building Dreams

The “Empower Her-Korogocho Young Mothers initiative” is setting a new standard for community empowerment in Nairobi County. CRVPF in partnership with organizations such as Miss Koch Kenya, Women United for Social Transformation, and Footprints for Change, in this dynamic program offers vocational training in tailoring, hairdressing, and entrepreneurship, paired with robust mental health, nutritional support, and early childhood development services.

Here, young mothers are not only learning skills—they’re forging new paths toward independence and self-efficacy, proving that every setback is just a setup for a remarkable comeback.

Lessons for Tomorrow: Paving the Path to Lasting Impact

The journey so far has offered invaluable insights:

• Sustainable Support: Building interventions that foster long-term independence, reducing dependency on project resources.
• Community & Government Synergy: Strengthening local engagement and collaborative governance to ensure institutionalization of youth-friendly policies and lasting change in Kenya and its environs.
• Empowered Transitions: Expanding skills training and forging links to real-world employment and business opportunities to transform dreams into reality.

The project stands as a beacon of hope, lighting the way for young mothers and their children. With every training session, safe space, community dialogue, documentation every step of the way, and laying the foundation for a robust MEL framework to support continuous learning and evidence-based decision-making, these initiatives are not just changing lives—they’re igniting a movement of empowerment that promises to leave an incredible mark on the future of Kenya.