Rwanda’s early childhood development (ECD) programme has expanded access for young children, but gaps, including in service quality and infrastructure, still need urgent attention, officials say.

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"Since the ECD policy was introduced in 2016, we have registered important achievements, including a steady increase in the number of ECD centres across the country, bringing services closer to children at village level,” the Minister of Gender and Family Promotion, Consolée Uwimana, said during the National Early Childhood Development Conference underway in Kigali on January 15-16.

She added that parents, educators and other caregivers have benefited from capacity-building programmes, alongside improvements to the curriculum used in ECD centres.

However, the minister acknowledged that challenges persist, particularly around the quality of services offered.

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"Some centres still lack adequate infrastructure and learning tools, and these are not yet evenly available everywhere,” she said. Uwimana also stressed the need for sustained awareness among parents, noting that changing behaviours around child upbringing remains a work in progress.

"There is still low contribution from family to children’s holistic growth. That is why, together with partners such as the National Child Development Agency (NCDA), we continue to provide information and guidance wherever possible,” she said.

NCDA Director General Assumpta Ingabire said the rapid growth in enrolment underscores both success and responsibility. She noted that more than 1.1 million children are now enrolled in ECD programmes, compared with about 200,000 roughly five years ago.

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"The increase is encouraging, but our priority is to ensure that the growth in numbers goes hand in hand with the quality of services children receive,” Ingabire said.

She also highlighted progress in nutrition outcomes, pointing out that Rwanda’s stunting rate has declined from 33 per cent to 27 per cent over the past five years, with strong contributions from districts across the country.

NCDA Deputy Director General Gilbert Munyemana said the expansion has been particularly rapid since 2020, when about 865,000 children were added to the ECD system, bringing the total to 1,165,000.

"Although we have reduced stunting to 27 per cent, the target ahead remains ambitious,” Munyemana said. "Reducing it by at least 15 per cent by 2029 will not be easy, but it is achievable.”

He pointed to partnerships with the private sector as a key strategy, especially the establishment of ECD centres in workplaces. "There are currently 45 ECD centres operating on tea plantations,” he said, adding that studies show such centres improve worker productivity while reducing risks associated with poor child development.

"In the past, some women worked while carrying babies on their back all day, limiting the children’s ability to crawl and develop properly, sometimes leading to disabilities,” Munyemana said. "Workplace-based ECD centres allow parents to work with peace of mind, knowing their children are in a safe environment.”

He added that similar initiatives have been introduced in mining areas, markets and offices, delivering benefits for both employees and employers.

"Stunting is not only caused by an unbalanced diet. Poor cleanliness and weaknesses in disease prevention also play a critical role,” said Dr Aline Uwimana, Division Manager for Maternal, Child and Community Health at the Rwanda Biomedical Center.

She explained that repeated infections linked to poor water, sanitation and hygiene practices prevent children from absorbing nutrients properly, even when their diet is adequate.

"If a child is constantly sick because of poor hygiene, the nutrients they eat cannot be used effectively,” she said.

Dr Uwimana said stunting is influenced by multiple factors, including the mother's level of education and household wealth.

"Children born to mothers with no formal education are more likely to be stunted, and children from low-income households face higher risks,” she said.

She noted that about 40 per cent of children in the poorest families are affected, compared with 9 per cent in the wealthiest.

ECD centres are crucial for preventing stunting, particularly during the first 1,000 days of life. Uwimana said that stunting often increases in early infancy and peaks shortly after weaning, around 20 to 22 months.

"ECD centres must be the frontline of prevention. Parents need guidance and support to protect children during this critical period,” she said.

She also highlighted challenges in child feeding practices. "Only 44 per cent of children aged 6 to 23 months receive a minimum dietary diversity, while many consume unhealthy foods or sweetened drinks, which raises the risk of malnutrition,” Dr Uwimana said.

Rwanda has reduced stunting from 48 per cent in 2000 to 27 per cent in 2025, according to Rwanda Biomedical Centre. But Uwimana said progress must continue, as eleven districts still report rates above 30 per cent. She said there needs to be concerted efforts to reduce stunting to below 15 per cent by 2029.