On July 22 2026 the Government of Zanzibar, a semi-autonomous region of Tanzania, launched its Multisectoral Early Childhood Development Programme 2026–2031 and adopted the Zanzibar Declaration on Investing in Early Years.
Designed to coordinate investments across health, nutrition, early learning, and child protection for children 0-8 years, the five-year policy framework sets out measurable, coordinated actions from the government, international development partners, the private sector, and civil society.
The programme requires the ministries of health, education, and social welfare to share institutional accountability for child development metrics.
“Investment in early childhood is the foundation of sustainable human capital development and national prosperity,” said Minister of State in the President’s Office, Dr Saada Mkuya Salum.
Under the Zanzibar Declaration on Investing in Early Years, the government and stakeholders pledged to strengthen the programme as the national platform for policy leadership, planning, coordination, implementation and accountability. They also committed to increasing domestic investment, exploring innovative financing mechanisms and coordinating development partner support to ensure sustainable, predictable and equitable financing for early childhood development.
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