CONTRIBUTORS
Alvin Joseph Kimani
Policy and Advocacy Officer
MARGARET NAMPIJJA
Research Scientist
Patricia Kitsao-Wekulo
Head of Early Childhood Development (ECD)
Ben Agina
Government Relations Coordinator
Building a Foundation for Partnerships
The African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC), through its Early Childhood Development (ECD) Unit, is deepening its strategic partnership with the Nairobi City County Government (NCCG) through the signing of an Omnibus Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This agreement formalizes long-term collaboration in research, capacity strengthening, and evidence-based policy advocacy to enhance service delivery for young children and their families, while advancing other shared priorities in research and development (R&D).
At the heart of this partnership is a shared commitment to aligning research and policy with Nairobi County’s development agenda across key sectors such as health, education, and social protection. This commitment was reaffirmed during a three-day co-creation workshop held in Machakos, which brought together senior county officials—including directors from Health, Early Childhood Development, Education, Social Services, and the County Legal Office—and the APHRC team.
During the workshop, participants reviewed and refined the draft MoU, reached consensus on shared priorities, and jointly developed a roadmap for operationalizing the partnership. A Joint Implementation Committee was established to oversee the execution of agreed actions and ensure sustained collaboration.
The MoU was formally signed by Prof. André Pascal Kengne, APHRC’s Director of Programs in charge of Research, on behalf of the Executive Director, and Mr. Godfrey Akumali, County Secretary of the Nairobi City County Government. The NCCG delegation was led by Dr. Benjamin Kimolo, Director of Research and Policy Development, and Dr. Caroline Ngunu, Senior Director for Promotive and Preventive Health.
This partnership represents a significant milestone in advancing evidence-informed policymaking at the sub-national level and demonstrates a model for institutional collaboration that bridges research, policy, and service delivery.
Advancing Data-Driven ECD
The Co-creation workshop advanced the design of a centralized ECD Data Visualization Platform. This platform is designed to offer a holistic view of coordination, planning, and accountability in early childhood programming. In Kenya, ECD data is typically fragmented across multiple sectors and is rarely integrated. By consolidating and integrating data from sectors such as health, education, and social services into a unified dashboard, policymakers and service providers will be able to track progress, identify gaps, and make more informed decisions based on data.
Participants took part in a hands-on session to shape the platform’s strategic direction. Sector-specific representatives proposed key indicators for inclusion, ensuring the system reflects the practical realities of each department. Presentations on the platform’s design and functionality helped build a shared understanding of its potential applications in cross-sector planning.
To further refine the tool, APHRC will lead co-creation workshops in Nairobi, Homa Bay, and Isiolo, the pilot counties selected based on regional diversity, data readiness, and demonstrated need. These sessions will bring together policymakers, service providers, caregivers, community stakeholders, and data specialists to collaboratively design an intuitive and impactful dashboard that provides real-time insights into ECD outcomes.
Upholding Ethical Standards and Scaling Impact
Recognizing the sensitive nature of child-related data, the development of the platform is underpinned by strong ethical and legal safeguards. Legal officers and data protection experts from both the County and APHRC contributed to shaping protocols that ensure data privacy, security, and alignment with Kenya’s national data protection laws.
The platform will also integrate with national data systems, including those overseen by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), Kenya’s health information systems, and the National Council for Children’s Services (NCCS), ensuring consistency and reliability.
Following the design phase, the platform will undergo a feasibility test in the three pilot counties. This stage will assess how well the tool integrates with existing county systems, how intuitive it is for end-users, and how effectively it supports decision-making. Feedback from this process will be critical in refining the platform and preparing for a broader national rollout.
The initiative will also focus on strengthening capacity among county personnel, ensuring they are equipped to manage and utilize the data platform for sustained impact.
A Milestone for People-Centered Development
This initiative represents a significant step in APHRC’s mission to advance data-driven, people-centered development. The co-creation workshop in Machakos served not just as a moment of alignment between partners, but also as a demonstration of what is possible when research institutions and local governments come together with a shared vision.
By bringing together diverse expertise, grounding efforts in data and community realities, and committing to ethical governance of information, APHRC and Nairobi City County are setting the stage for transformative and scalable impact.
As the MoU nears finalization and the platform continues to evolve, both institutions remain committed to a collaborative approach that centers children’s well-being and builds stronger, more resilient systems for early childhood development.