Places to Grow launches collaborative ECD Ecosystem Mapping project in Slovakia
Places to Grow (P2G)* is thrilled to announce its latest project: the Early Childhood Development (ECD) Ecosystem Mapping project, based in the Banská Bystrica region in Slovakia. In collaboration with the Banská Bystrica Regional Government (BBSK), Socia, information designer Ivett Kovács, data visualisation UX/UI designer Michał Kociszewski, and with the Centre on the Developing Child of Harvard University as our advisor, P2G will conduct this project to present at the P2G conference in Prague in November 2024.
We aim to develop a few invaluable resources that will become essential tools for key stakeholders, such as local governments, to determine better where and how to focus limited resources for ECD. We plan to collect data from public resources and host workshops in collaboration with the municipality and relevant local organisations.
So, why are we focusing our energy on this mapping project?
Daelmens et al. explained that there has been increasing action in ECD since Lancet’s 2007 Series publication, including several additional publications, funding, and multisectoral policy changes. They argued, however, that there are more opportunities for positive systemic change in ECD. These programs, which vary widely in quality and lack consistent collaboration, are often isolated, fragmented and not positioned to be evaluated or scaled. By focusing efforts on early care (that is, from birth to eight years old), and by reinforcing multisectoral action (including child protection, education, social services, health, and nutrition), ECD has the potential to benefit all children, including to break the continued cycle of poverty and human capital loss.
P2G realises that, by capturing this information in the Banská Bystrica region, we can provide better support for all children in need by equipping key stakeholders with better visibility into how to approach ECD support. This starts with answering these key questions: Where is there existing support? Where is support lacking? Who needs more support? Which type of support is most needed? These answers will help us better understand the landscape of ECD support and utilise the limited resources in the most effective way possible.
How will we begin to tackle this systemic issue within the region?
ECD Map Layers
- Needs Map: identify the critical areas within the region using proxy data (such as access to ECD services, primary school performance, or dropout rates)
- ECD Ecosystem Map: acknowledge and highlight the existing ECD network (including the organisations, their services, and both intersectoral and cross-sectoral relationships)
- Ecosystem Health Map: evaluate the strength and efficacy of the existing ECD network
Developing maps will help us better locate where support is needed. They also will allow us to approach this work with a more innovative, collaborative lens. Through a multi-sector and multi-level approach, P2G is focused on systemic change rather than short-term solutions. Intertwining these three layers will help us better identify the path ahead for all stakeholders by evaluating the critical need areas and the existing support.
The overall goal is to provide access to ECD for every child by building more cohesion amongst existing efforts and strengthening ECD services within the region.
P2G considers this an issue-agnostic project; this strategy could also apply to a wide range of topics. Ideally, this project can become a map for other projects globally, leading towards systems transformation.
As we are in the early planning stages, we look forward to collaborating with partners locally and internationally to build and grow this project. If you are interested in what we do or want to join Places to Grow, please contact info@placestogrow.eu and consider registering for our P2G Conference in Prague on November 14th, where we will also present this project.
*Places to Grow, a catalyst for excellence in early childhood development (ECD), education and care in the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia, strengthens relationships between organisations active in social services, education, advocacy, and research.
