The Network for Early Childhood Development Actors Uganda (NECDA) has marked a significant milestone in its journey to strengthen coordination, collective action, and policy engagement for early childhood development (ECD) in Uganda. In a series of recently concluded meetings, NECDA convened stakeholders under five thematic Clusters; Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE), Health and Nutrition, Research and Academia, Parenting, and Child Protection; to galvanize efforts toward a shared vision: A Uganda where every young child achieves their full developmental milestones.
These Cluster meetings, held across the month of June 2025, brought together civil society organizations to align around thematic priorities, build collaboration, and elect leaders who will drive the work forward. Each Cluster has now elected its leadership, and these representatives will constitute NECDA’s Steering Committee, the governance body that will shape the Network’s direction, amplify its voice, and champion cross-sector accountability.
A Multisectoral Approach for Holistic ECD
NECDA’s Clusters reflect the core pillars of holistic early childhood development, grounded in the recognition that no single sector alone can meet the diverse needs of young children. The ECCE Cluster focuses on inclusive learning, quality assurance, and implementation of Uganda’s ECCE Policy. The Health and Nutrition Cluster prioritizes maternal and child health, access to essential services, and the integration of nutrition-sensitive interventions into community programming.
The Parenting Cluster emphasizes positive parenting, caregiver empowerment, and male involvement. The Research and Academia Cluster is set to lead the charge in knowledge generation, evidence use, and promoting homegrown solutions rooted in data and practice. The Child Protection Cluster tackles critical issues such as violence prevention, safeguarding, and strengthening the social welfare workforce.
Leadership for Action
The election of Cluster leaders marks a transition from consultation to coordinated action. These leaders will serve on NECDA’s Steering Committee, ensuring that grassroots realities, sector-specific expertise, and national policy conversations remain connected. By elevating Cluster representatives into leadership roles, NECDA is modelling a participatory governance structure; one that values inclusion, transparency, and distributed leadership.
The Steering Committee will work closely with the NECDA Secretariat to oversee implementation of the Network’s strategic priorities, support national and regional engagements, and mobilize resources for sustained impact.
A Growing Movement with Bold Ambitions
NECDA is a movement of actors who believe that Uganda’s future depends on what happens in the early years. With over 100 member organizations across the country, the Network is uniquely positioned to influence policy, shape public discourse, and support localized action through its Clusters.
The Five Cluster Meetings reaffirmed a collective commitment to break silos, bridge sectors, and co-create solutions that reach the most vulnerable children. They also set in motion an implementation structure that will ensure thematic issues are tackled with depth, technical rigor, and policy relevance.
What's Next?
With Cluster leaders in place and momentum building, NECDA will now focus on three immediate priorities:
- Operationalizing the Clusters through work plans, learning agendas, and cross-sector action plans aligned with Uganda’s ECCE Policy Implementation Framework.
- Supporting and participating in the National ECD Summit 2025, where Cluster outcomes and priorities will be showcased to government leaders, funders, and the media.
- Launching the NECDA website, which will serve as a repository for tools, research, and advocacy materials developed by members.
A Call to Collaborate
As Uganda embarks on the implementation of its ECCE Policy and broader early childhood agenda, platforms like NECDA are indispensable. They ensure that civil society is not only consulted but co-leading the transformation of systems that shape young children’s lives.
NECDA’s recent Five Cluster Meetings are a reminder that when we organize, we amplify. When we collaborate, we accelerate. And when we lead together, we build a future where every child has the chance to thrive.
