By Adan Mohamed - Reporter
August 19, 2026 - Mandera County Government in partnership with the Frontier Counties Development Council (FCDC) and the Aga Khan University Institute for Human Development (AKU-IHD), has launched a Multisectoral Technical Working Group to coordinate and strengthen Early Childhood Development and Education (ECDE) programmes across the county.
The Technical Working Group brings together representatives from government ministries, State Departments, county departments and development partners that is expected to oversee coordination of the pilot programme, identify priority interventions and develop a first-quarter work plan to guide its initial activities.
Mandera is among four counties selected to pilot the Regional Early Childhood Development Strategic Plan 2025–2030, developed by FCDC and AKU-IHD and aligned with the World Health Organization’s Nurturing Care Framework. The initiative seeks to promote a coordinated approach to early childhood development by bringing together key sectors involved in the wellbeing, care, learning and protection of young children.
Mandera county Governor Mohamed Adan Khalif welcomed the initiative, saying the county remains committed to investing in early childhood development as a foundation for the future of Mandera.
“Investing in early childhood development is investing in the future of our children and our county and we are committed to working with our partners to ensure every child in Mandera gets the right foundation for learning, growth and development,” Governor Mohamed Adan Khalif said.
The Governor further emphasized the importance of collaboration among county departments, national government agencies, development partners and other stakeholders in addressing the different needs of children during their formative years.
During its inception meeting, members reviewed and adopted the group’s Terms of Reference, which outline its coordination, planning, implementation and monitoring responsibilities.
The framework is expected to provide a structured approach to ensuring that ECDE interventions are better coordinated and responsive to the needs of children and families in Mandera.
Related articles
The multisectoral approach recognizes that early childhood development goes beyond classroom learning and requires investment in health, nutrition, education, child protection, water and sanitation, parenting support and other areas that influence a child’s development.
The initiative is also expected to strengthen coordination between existing programmes and reduce duplication of efforts among stakeholders working to improve outcomes for young children in the county.
Senior officials and experts from FCDC and AKU-IHD, including FCDC Chief Executive Officer Dr. Idle Farah and AKU-IHD Director Prof. Amina Abubakar,provided technical guidance on the implementation of the regional ECDE strategy.
The pilot is expected to generate lessons and practical experiences that can inform the wider implementation of the Regional Early Childhood Development Strategic Plan 2025–2030 across the Frontier Counties.
For Mandera, stakeholders say the initiative provides an opportunity to strengthen the foundation of learning and development for children while building a coordinated system that places early childhood development at the centre of the county’s long-term development agenda.
Mandera County currently has more than 35,000 children enrolled in 350 ECDE centres, as the county government continues to strengthen early childhood education and ensure every child has access to quality learning.