This initiative directly tackles significant disparities in access to high-quality childcare services for children aged 0 to 8 years. It also addresses prevalent developmental challenges, which affect 30 percent of children under age 5, and delayed developmental milestones observed in 53 percent of children aged 24 to 59 months. By aligning with the National Multi-sectoral Early Childhood Development Programme (NM-ECDP) 2022–2026, the Malezi Campaign strengthens Tanzania’s commitment to ensuring safe, inclusive, and high-quality childcare for all children.

Campaign Beneficiaries and Challenges Addressed

The Malezi Campaign serves children aged 0 to 5 and their caregivers, especially in underserved communities. These families face challenges such as inadequate nutrition, limited access to high-quality childcare services, and a low awareness of responsive caregiving practices. The campaign equips primary and secondary caregivers (parents/guardians, nannies, and caregivers) with the knowledge and practical skills needed to foster physical, cognitive, emotional, and social well-being from the earliest years.

Barriers to Early Childhood Development (ECD) Access and Campaign Solutions

Grassroots communities in Tanzania encounter significant barriers to accessing high-quality ECD services, including insufficient ECD infrastructure, a shortage of trained personnel, and limited awareness of the importance of early childhood investment. With only 206 registered daycare centers nationwide, financial constraints further limit access.

The Malezi Campaign employs a multipronged approach to overcome these barriers. It advocates for increased public investment in community-based ECD centers, enhances caregiver and service provider skills to improve quality, and champions equitable access to high-quality early childhood care through policy reform. By raising community awareness and building local capacity, the campaign aims to create a supportive environment where all children, regardless of their socioeconomic background, can grow, learn, and thrive.

A Community Success Story

The Malezi Campaign has elevated informal childcare centers previously operating without formal support by introducing standardized operational guidelines and comprehensive training for frontline workers. These efforts have improved service quality, safety, and consistency.

In Mwanza, during preparations for the Malezi Summit in May 2025, Regional Social Welfare Officer Baraka Makona shared an inspiring milestone: “From January 2025 to date, I have facilitated the registration of more than 200 daycare centers.” This achievement highlights the incredible momentum behind the campaign to strengthen grassroots childcare systems across the region.

The Malezi Summit, a landmark event, brought together communities, educators, and policymakers to champion high-quality daycare and preprimary education. But what does this mean for the families and children in Mwanza? Let’s hear directly from parents/caregivers involved in the Dar Urban Program, who are witnessing the impact of these efforts firsthand.

Voices From the Field: Parents’ Perspectives 

The Dar Urban Program is empowering parents and caregivers by providing access to high-quality daycare and preprimary education. Here’s what some parents had to say about how these centers are transforming their children’s lives:

Quality Care That Feels Like Home
“It feels like the child is at home because they provide quality care.”
Parents praise the nurturing environment in these daycare centers, where children are treated with love and attention, fostering a sense of security and belonging.

Building Foundations for Learning
“Daycare is for younger children; preprimary is for reading, writing, and counting.”
Parents appreciate the clear distinction between daycare and preprimary programs, which cater to different developmental stages. Preprimary classes are equipping children with essential skills to prepare them for school.

Nurturing the Whole Child
“It is run according to religious principles, emphasizing the spiritual aspect.”
For many families, the integration of spiritual and moral values in childcare is a cornerstone of their trust in these programs, ensuring their children grow with strong ethical foundations.

These testimonials paint a vivid picture of how the Malezi Summit and initiatives like the Dar Urban program are empowering communities by prioritizing ECD.

The Urgent Need for ECD Investment

The 2022 Tanzania Population and Housing Census indicates that children aged 0 to 5 compose 15.4 percent of the population—approximately 9.5 million children. Yet only 397,935 children are enrolled in 4,000 registered daycare centers, highlighting a significant service gap. Urgent investment in community-based ECD centers is essential to expand access to affordable, high-quality childcare, particularly in underserved areas, to foster lifelong learning, health, and well-being.

The Malezi Campaign advocates for support from government, the private sector, and donors to ensure sustainable childcare services by addressing key financing gaps. These include: 

• Limited public investment in ECD infrastructure.
• Insufficient resources for constructing and equipping centers.
• A shortage of trained caregivers. 

Influencing Policy Through Advocacy

TECDEN leverages the Malezi Campaign to advocate policy reforms prioritizing community-based ECD programs. Through national and regional dialogues, TECDEN engages policymakers, ECD practitioners, and political leaders to address childcare challenges and secure investment. Partnerships with Children in Crossfire and the Union of Tanzania Press Clubs under the Mtoto Kwanza Project amplify advocacy through media, and ECD journalist champions promote public demand via various traditional media channels, including radio and newspapers, along with other community outlets, ensuring that educational childcare information is widely disseminated across Mwanza and beyond. TECDEN collaborates with the Early Childhood Development Parliamentary Group Caucus Group, using evidence-based research and success stories to influence national budget allocations. A position paper, co-developed by TECDEN, HakiElimu, and other ECD stakeholders, integrated ECD into the Tanzania National Vision 2050. Additionally, TECDEN plans to establish 30 community daycare centers over three years as scalable models.

Transformations Through Increased Funding

Increased financing could expand childcare centers, strengthen the ECD workforce, and develop inclusive, culturally relevant curricula. Early outcomes from the Malezi Campaign show improved cognitive and social skills, better health and nutrition, and enhanced school readiness among children in well-resourced programs. Sustained investment could scale these benefits, ensuring lifelong learning and well-being.

Community Voices at the Core

Local community leaders, parents, and caregivers are at the heart of the Malezi Campaign, shaping its impact through participation in training, dialogues, and decision-making. Their insights ensure ECD services reflect community needs and values, while their involvement in managing daycare centers fosters ownership and sustainability. Structured engagement amplifies their voices, influencing program design and policy advocacy.

The Power of Partnerships

The Malezi Campaign thrives on partnerships with government, civil society, and international allies. Collaboration with ministries—such as the Ministry of Community Development, Gender, Women, and Special Groups and the President’s Office-Regional Administration and Local Government—aligns the campaign with national priorities. Local government authorities implement contextually appropriate strategies, while media partnerships amplify awareness. Support from the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, Echidna Giving, the Africa Early Childhood Network, the Global Schools Forum, and Children in Crossfire drives the childcare agenda and helps scale ECD efforts nationwide.

Christopher Peter Mpega is the Project Officer at Tanzania Early Childhood Development Network (TECDEN).

Childcare Stories