A global call to action for early childhood

52 Engaging the private and public sectors in Brazil: A multisectoral approach to ECCD
Gerdau Group and the RBS Chairmen
that aimed to mobilise private sector
support for the Fund had a positive
impact on the business community.
So far ten companies have become
partners, citing the Gerdau Group’s
participation as a key reason for their
support of the programme.
Engaging the public sector:
Primeira Infância Melhor
Though Rio Grande do Sul is one of
Brazil’s most prosperous states, only
264,225 of its children between the
ages of 0 and 6 are regularly enrolled
in early childhood centres; of these,
16.95% are in preschools (ages 4-6)
and only 6.75% are in crèches (0-3).
A staggering 1,064,214 children
between the ages of 0 and 6 are
not officially enrolled in the local
educational systems (Censo Escolar
2006, State Secretariat of Education,
in Rio Grande do Sul). UNESCO is
currently working with the public
authorities to address this gap in ECCE
coverage.
In 2000 UNESCO, UNICEF, and the
World Bank supported the federal
government and a local NGO, the
Instituto Zero a Três (Zero to Three
Institute), to organise three scientific
events where leading experts
presented key findings on ECCD 3
in Brasilia (Federal District), Porto
Alegre (Rio Grande do Sul) and Rio
de Janeiro (Rio de Janeiro). Among
those attending these events were
members of the state government of
Rio Grande do Sul. The presentations
made such an impression on these
members of government that, when
they were in a position to do so, they
decided to design and implement an
ECCD pilot project called “Primeira
Infância Melhor” (Better Early Child
Development Programme; PIM). They
did this with guidance and technical
support from UNESCO. The pilot
project was presented to the State
Governor by Dr. Osmar Gasparini
Terra, the State Secretary of Health,
who became a passionate advocate
of ECCD and who spearheaded
the initiative at the state level. Dr.
Terra has since become the official
Programme Coordinator.
The importance of solid research in
influencing policy makers cannot be
underestimated. It is the source of
legitimacy for the advocacy initiative
and a precondition for lobbying and
public communications.
PIM aims to promote the holistic
development of children from before
birth (through prenatal care) and up
to the age of 6, paying particular
attention to children under the age of
3. The approach is based on an ECCD
methodology developed by the Cuban
programme “Educa Tu Hijo” (Teach
Your Child). The programme provides
culturally and socially relevant guidance
and information to families to enable
them to better care for and support
their children’s holistic development.
PIM focuses on low-income families,
many of whom have incomes of
only about US$65 a month, and
whose children have no access to
early childhood centres (crèches or
preschool). It also aims to promote
prenatal care for pregnant women.
The programme is being implemented
by 1,544 home visitors and currently
benefits 57,900 children under the age
of 6 from 38,600 low-income families,
as well as 4,632 pregnant women.
The programme is a multisectoral
initiative coordinated by the State
Secretariat of Health in partnership
with the State Secretariats of
Education, of Culture, and of Justice
and Social Development. Responsibility
for its implementation lies with local
governments. By July 2007, PIM had
been implemented in 219 of the 496
municipalities in Rio Grande do Sul.
The state government has set up many
initiatives to highlight the importance
of ECCD, especially between the
ages of 0 and 3, including Baby’s
Day and Baby’s Week, during which
four international seminars have been
organised to date. Senator Hillary
Clinton was invited to the last seminar,
in March 2006. Although she could
not attend, she recorded and sent
a three-minute welcome speech.
These initiatives were made possible
through cooperation between state
government officials, UNESCO, and
staff from the World Bank. To reach
the whole community, the government
also produced a media campaign
that included a one-minute video and
a song for the radio. The national
Globo Television aired the video on its
evening news bulletins.
Impact to date
Engaging the state has ensured that
any obstacles at the policy level have
been addressed to increase the overall
effectiveness of the programme. The
state legislature has passed a number
of Decrees that have had a positive
impact on the programme, including
the following:
• Decree 42.199 of April 7, 2003
officially set up the State Committee
for Early Child Holistic Development
(CEDIPI).
• Decree 42.200 of April 7, 2003
officially announced a “Baby’s Day”
(November 23) and a “Baby’s Week”
in the state of Rio Grande do Sul,
during which different activities and an
International Convention on ECCD are
held.
• Regulation 15/2003 of April 7,
2003 officially set up the programme
and established financial incentives
(allocated monthly) for each home
visitor channelled through the
municipalities. Two later Regulations
have increased the incentive (to
R$400,000 or US$208).
In July 2006, the State Governor
tabled a law that was approved by
all parliamentarians in the House of
COORDINATORS’ NOTEBOOK: ISSUE 29