2013年-世界发展银行全球_Republic_of_Mali_Early_Childhood_Development___SABER_Country_Report_2013_28页_1mb

Summary of the SABER Country Report on Early Childhood Development in Mali

Core Content

The SABER-ECD Country Report on Mali (2013) provides an in-depth analysis of the country's Early Childhood Development (ECD) policies and programs, highlighting the challenges and opportunities in creating a supportive environment for young children and their families. The report outlines three core policy goals for ECD: Establishing an Enabling Environment, Implementing Widely, and Monitoring and Assuring Quality. These goals are essential for ensuring that ECD services are accessible, effective, and sustainable.

Mali has adopted a national ECD policy in 2011, and the Ministry of Education has been leading ECD initiatives since 1993 through the National Directorate of Preschool and Special Education (DNEPS). However, ECD services are fragmented across different sectors such as education, health, nutrition, and social protection. The report emphasizes the need for a more integrated and coordinated approach to ECD.

Main Policy Goals and Key Findings

1. Establishing an Enabling Environment

• Legal Framework:

  • Mali has adopted several international conventions, including the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (1990), the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the African Child (1998), and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2008).
  • There is no national law mandating childhood immunizations, well-child visits, or standard HIV and STD screenings for pregnant women.
  • The country has adopted the International Code of Marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes and has implemented mandatory salt iodization and iron fortification.
  • There is no law prohibiting female genital mutilation (FGM), despite efforts to raise awareness.

• Maternity and Paternity Leave:

  • Women are entitled to 14 weeks of paid maternity leave, while men receive only 3 days.
  • There are no publicly supported parenting programs, and preprimary school is not compulsory.

• Child Protection:

  • Article 16 of the National Child Protection Policy states that children with disabilities are entitled to additional protection and education.
  • The National Plan for the Eradication of FGM was created in 2002, but it lacks legal enforceability.
  • The Children's Court Law 2001 provides legal protection for minors, but implementation is limited.

2. Implementing Widely

• Access to Services:

  • ECD services are concentrated in urban areas, leaving rural populations, the poor, and children with special needs with limited access.
  • The gross preprimary enrolment rate is only 4% for children aged 36-59 months.
  • Child mortality rates remain high, with infant mortality at 80 deaths per 1,000 live births and under-5 mortality at 128 deaths per 1,000 live births.

• Regional Comparison:

  • Mali's infant mortality rate is higher than Guinea (65) and Nigeria (78), but lower than Sierra Leone (117).
  • The gross preprimary enrolment rate in Mali is much lower than in Liberia (61) and significantly lower than in Nigeria (13).

3. Monitoring and Assuring Quality

• Data Collection:

  • Data collection on ECD services is irregular and heavily reliant on nonprofit organizations.
  • There is no system to track child development outcomes or to monitor compliance with ECD service standards.

• Professional Development:

  • Opportunities for professional development for ECD providers are inconsistent and often unavailable.

• Quality Assurance:

  • There are no established mechanisms to ensure the quality of ECD services, and penalties for non-compliance are lenient.

Key Considerations for Mali

• Multisectoral Coordination:

  • The National ECD Intersectoral Committee was established in 2004, but it lacks formal recognition and has limited impact on actual coordination.
  • Integrated service delivery guidelines are missing, leading to fragmented service provision.

• Financial Investment:

  • There is no clear criteria or methods to determine ECD financial spending.
  • The Ministry of Education has a separate budget line for early childhood education, but the total budget allocated to ECD is unclear.
  • Funding for ECD services in health, nutrition, and social protection is not specifically tracked by age range.

• Recommendations:

  • Develop a more comprehensive legal framework that mandates essential ECD services.
  • Implement a more synergetic and integrated approach to ECD service delivery.
  • Ensure adequate and sustainable financial investment in ECD, particularly for the poorest households.
  • Establish a system for tracking child development outcomes and ensuring quality standards.
  • Promote multisectoral coordination and create legal mechanisms to support the National ECD Intersectoral Committee.

Regional Comparison Table

Conclusion

Mali faces significant challenges in implementing effective ECD policies. While some legal and institutional frameworks exist, they are not comprehensive or well-coordinated. The country needs to adopt a more holistic, integrated, and financially supported approach to ECD to ensure that all children, especially the most vulnerable, have access to essential services. The report recommends learning from successful models such as Chile's Crece Contigo program, which emphasizes multisectoral coordination, financial commitment, and quality assurance.