The Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) has been making significant contributions to the Early Childhood Development (ECD) sector in Tanzania for three decades. AKF has pioneered the provision of high quality, culturally-relevant and holistic early childhood development amongst communities in Zanzibar and Southern Tanzania.
The programme focuses on transforming the quality of life of young children and their families, building strong institutions, leaders and professionals, and contributing to networks, research and policy. Through its Madrasa Early Childhood Programme, over 10,000 children, 50 percent of them girls, benefit from the current support to 81 community-based preschools in Zanzibar. AKF is also giving increasing attention towards supporting children under the age of three, focusing on better parenting and caregiver interventions. In 2014, AKF and the Madrasa Early Childhood Programme in Zanzibar embarked on a partnership to deliver professional development to 900 teachers across 400 preschools while assisting the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training to mainstream the community-based pre-schooling approach.
In addition, the Aga Khan Education Services operates two nursery schools that provide high quality educational experiences within learning spaces that are contextually relevant, promote best practice, and integrate families. The schools are in Dar es Salaam and Mwanza.
