AFRICHILD MONTHLY MONITOR - JANUARY

OUR RESEARCH WORK

As part of our regional expansion strategy, AfriChild has signed an Memorandum of Understanding with the University of Rwanda, a major step in strengthening cross-border research collaboration between Uganda and Rwanda. This partnership enhances knowledge exchange, fosters joint research, and generates evidence to inform policies on children’s well-being. By leveraging the expertise of both institutions, we are broadening our impact and ensuring research-driven solutions shape the future of children across Africa. The university of Rwanda is a leading institution with over a decade of academic excellence, operating across 11 campuses under 7 colleges and serves more than 31,000 students.

Teachers from Maratatu, Kentomi, and Rwemisanga Primary Schools in Kyangwali Refugee Settlement in Uganda joined UBUMWE 2.0, a transformative training integrating art into education. Through activities like kitenge design, pottery, and mural creation, they gained tools to foster resilience, creativity, and well-being among refugee children. The program, in collaboration with AfriChild and partners, promotes arts integration in line with Uganda’s national curriculum to enhance inclusive learning.

As part of our partnership with the Norwegian Refugee Council, Research Assistants were trained to conduct a Tracer Study on the SCALE project, assessing its impact on education and livelihoods among refugees and host communities in Nakivale, Kyangwali, and Kampala. A pretest at Buganda Royal Institute and engagements with youth in Kisenyi provided critical insights into study methodology and participant experiences. The day ended with a reflection session to refine data collection plans, ensuring a robust evaluation of the project's influence on refugees from South Sudan, DRC, and Burundi.

AfriChild’s research team is leading Co-Design Workshops in Kabahinda B and Nakivale Refugee Settlement, Isingiro District, to identify Early Childhood Development (ECD) gaps and collaborate with the community on sustainable solutions under the Nurturing Care Framework. Participatory stakeholder mapping helped pinpoint key supporters and shape targeted strategies. Community members identified barriers and proposed solutions, including village meetings, stakeholder collaboration, and resource mobilization for ECD centers. These workshops are driving inclusive, community-led approaches to strengthen ECD interventions.

STAKEHOLDER AND EXTERNAL ENGAGEMENTS

The Kulea Watoto Project Consortium, a partnership focused on improving Early Childhood Development (ECD) in Uganda, joined forces with the Uganda Parliamentary Forum for Children (UPFC) to engage policymakers in a dialogue advocating for stronger government support for ECD. The discussion, centered around the ECD Issue Paper, revealed critical gaps in access, funding, and quality of pre-primary education. The paper highlighted the urgent need for public investment to tackle poor early learning outcomes, low enrollment rates, and disparities caused by reliance on private services. Key recommendations included amending the Education Act to fund ECD, introducing a compulsory preparatory year, and improving infrastructure and educator training. Legislators and stakeholders committed to advancing policy reforms and ensuring inclusive education for children with disabilities.

CAPACITY BUILDING

We kicked off 2025 with a dynamic two-day Annual Staff Planning Retreat, uniting our team to reflect, strategize, and innovate. The retreat provided a space to celebrate past milestones, refine priorities, and explore new ways to strengthen programs and partnerships. Through engaging discussions and collaborative workshops, we set the course for a year of greater impact in advancing child-focused research and advocacy.

UPCOMING EVENTS