In general, integrated Early Child Development (ECD) projects face additional hurdles during implementation as compared to other social sector projects. Coordination and cooperation between various line ministries often proves difficult but is necessary in view of the multi-sectoral character of the projects. The implementing agencies often have very little experience in the delivery of integrated ECD services and are likely to have limited institutional and administrative capacity to implement relatively complex projects. The innovative nature of many ECD programs asks for initial piloting and creative adjustments to local circumstances before projects can start to scale up.
To implement ECD projects successfully, it is important to establish a balance between time frame, project size and the institutional capacity in a country. In most cases, devoting one to two years to build up capacity is justified and needed. Starting on a small scale will allow the project management team to gain learning experience and confidence, after which the project can gradually increase in size. Moreover, using these first years to pilot different models for the delivery of ECD services can prove extremely useful in tailoring the delivery model to the specific regional circumstances. After evaluation of the pilot projects, the most appropriate projects can be brought to scale.
Because of the time needed to build capacity, an extension of the usual project time frame of five years by one or two years can help ensure that the project can cover a sufficiently large area. |
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