Shillong, May 2: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, in an effort to upscale early childhood development programme in the State, convened a meeting with UNICEF delegation, led by Dr. Madhulika Jonathan, Chief of Field Office Assam and North East States. The meeting, was held on Thursday, outlined interventions for collaboration between Meghalaya and UNICEF to bolster early childhood development programmes.
Expressing a keen interest in partnering with the Government of Meghalaya, the UNICEF delegation articulated their commitment to provide comprehensive technical support for the early childhood development mission. This collaboration aims to empower the State in implementing various interventions aimed at enhancing the learning trajectory of children across Meghalaya.
Recognizing the pivotal role of Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) staff in the early childhood development ecosystem, the UNICEF delegation highlighted the importance of conducting training programs for early childhood care and education. These initiatives are envisioned to equip the workforce with updated knowledge and skills essential for fostering optimal development of young children.
Currently, UNICEF as mandated. The NITI Aayog is working in the aspirational District, Ri-Bhoi on health system strengthening, and will scale up in all 12 districts on a human-centric design approach.
The UNICEF delegation extended their full cooperation to the government in scaling up Child Risk Impact Analysis. This aims to serve as a proces to identify areas of support and recommend actions for districts to enhance resilience of services for children in disaster vulnerable districts.
As part of UNICEF’s 75th anniversary this year, in collaboration with the Government of Meghalaya, a CM Youth Advisory Group will be announced to engage young people in decision making spaces, on different issues impacting children’s rights especially climate action. This collaboration will be part of UNICEF with India vision for a sustainable future for generations to come.
Chief Minister, Conrad K. Sangma, welcomed these initiatives with enthusiasm, acknowledging the significance of investing in early childhood development and young people in shaping the future of Meghalaya. He emphasized the government’s commitment to leverage the partnership with UNICEF to ensure the holistic development and well-being of every child in the State.
