Youth Development

ChildFund has been awarded the Montessori Global Education Award in recognition of its work advancing early childhood development through practical, research-informed programming in Ethiopia.

The award, presented by Jayde Davies of Montessori Global Education, recognizes ChildFund’s contribution through the Growth and Economic Opportunities for Women project, supported by the International Development Research Centre. The project is implemented in partnership with Tesfa Berhan Child and Family Development Organization and Addis Ababa University.

The initiative addresses a critical barrier facing many families, the lack of safe, affordable childcare that limits women’s ability to participate in economic activities. By integrating community-based childcare with women’s economic empowerment efforts, the project has delivered measurable benefits for children, women, and communities.

Key achievements to date include:

• Early childhood development: Renovation of 16 Early Childhood Development centers across Addis Ababa, Adama, and Debreberhan, improving the quality of care and learning environments for 380 children aged one to three years.
• Women’s economic empowerment: Formation of 16 self-help groups with 320 women members, who have collectively mobilized USD 11,450 in savings and accessed USD 37,789 in loans to start and expand income-generating activities.
• Promoting social cohesion: Strengthened household and community engagement through dialogue platforms focused on child growth and development, fostering shared responsibility for care and wellbeing.
• Skills development: Enhanced leadership, entrepreneurship, decision-making, networking, lobbying, and advocacy capacities of community members, particularly women, increasing their influence at household and community levels.
• Stakeholder engagement: Strengthened collaboration with local government stakeholders, including the Education Bureau and the Children’s Bureau, to support sustainability and alignment with national development priorities.

Commenting on the award, ChildFund Ethiopia Country Director Lilly Omondi said the recognition underscores the importance of linking childcare with women’s livelihoods. “This award affirms that childcare is about early learning as much as it is about economic opportunity,” she said. “When women have access to safe, quality childcare, they are better positioned to work, earn, and contribute to their families and communities, while children receive the strong start they deserve.”

Early Childhood Development Manager Natan Tilahun highlighted the project’s emphasis on evidence and community ownership. “We combined research with community leadership, to design childcare models that respond to real needs,” he said. “The results show that locally rooted care systems can deliver lasting benefits for children and women.”

ChildFund expressed appreciation to Montessori Global Education for the recognition and to its partners, Tesfa Berhan Child and Family Development Organization and Addis Ababa University, for their collaboration. The organization noted that lessons from the project will inform efforts to scale community-led childcare models and strengthen policy engagement in Ethiopia and beyond.