31/07/2026
Strengthening ECD Data Systems in Malawi: ECDMIS Review & Training Workshop
From July 9-10, 2026, the Early Childhood Development (ECD) Coalition of Malawi, with support from the Comic Relief and UK Aid Shifting the Power Programme (implemented by TILITONSE FOUNDATION in partnership with Comic Relief and the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office of the United Kingdom), convened a Review Meeting and Training Workshop on the ECD Management Information System (ECDMIS) at Hippo View Lodge in Balaka.
The workshop, officially opened by Mr. Trevor Hamela, Director of Child Affairs, brought together 61 participants (26 female, 35 male) including District Social Welfare Officers, District ECD Coordinators, Monitoring & Evaluation Officers, ECD staff (Balaka, Mangochi, Machinga & Zomba), Coalition members (Youth for Development and Productivity (YODEP), Youth Impact, The Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA), Sparkle Foundation), ECD Coalition Board Member representative and Staff from The Minister of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare( Child Affairs department).
Key Achievements:
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Hands-on training in ECD data collection, data entry and dashboard navigation for 61 Participants.
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Issuance of user credentials enabling role-based system access for district officers government officers.
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Actionable recommendations gathered to inform nationwide expansion of the ECDMIS.
Way Forward:
Roll out ECDMIS training to additional districts, Balaka, Mangochi, Zomba and Machinga.
Train Child Protection Workers on digital data collection platforms(ECD Data).
Collect ECD Data in the four districts namely: Balaka, Mangochi, Zomba and Machinga.
Develop a resource mobilization plan for nationwide rollout.
The ECDMIS, developed in 2021 with World Bank support, is a critical tool for evidence-based planning and service delivery. Strengthening capacity at district level is essential to ensuring every child in Malawi is counted. Since 2023 the ECD data has not been updated. ECD Coalition supported this activity to ensure that the ministry has updated ECD data in the selected four districts namely: Balaka Mangochi, Machinga and Zomba.