Multisectoral Early Childhood Development Project

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The objective of the Multisectoral Early Childhood Development Project for Marshall Islands is to improve coverage of multisectoral early childhood development services. There are four components to the project, the first component being improve coverage of essential RMNCH-N services. This component aims to improve the availability and coverage of an evidence-based package of essential RMNCH-N and stimulation services for the first 1,000 days. The component has two sub-components, one aimed at strengthening stewardship and management of health administration and the other at directly strengthening service delivery. The second component is the improve coverage of stimulation and early learning activities. Component two aims to improve children’s cognitive and socio-emotional development and facilitate children’s readiness for on-time transition to primary school through expanding access to stimulation and early learning services. This component includes two subcomponents: strengthening MOEST management and stewardship of ECD services; and enhancing delivery of stimulation and early learning activities. The third component is the social assistance for early years’ families. This component aims to introduce a conditional cash transfer (CCT) pilot to modify care practices and behaviors and promote uptake of ECD services. This component includes two subcomponents: strengthening Government of RMI’s capacity to establish and deliver social assistance program for ECD, and provision of cash transfers to early years’ families in selected areas. Finally, the fourth component is the strengthening the multisectoral ECD system and project management. This component includes two subcomponents: national multisectoral ECD strategy and governance, and ECD awareness and SBCC campaign.