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This report presented findings from a multi-sectoral needs assessment in Palorinya Refugee Settlement and host communities in Obongi District, Uganda, which currently hosts over 127,000 South Sudanese refugees. The assessment identified critical gaps in early childhood development (ECD) and livelihood services, including overcrowded schools, inadequate facilities, and low ECD access in host communities. Despite high numbers of working-age adults, 88% of refugee households lack sufficient income, relying mainly on casual labour and selling aid or natural resources. Key livelihood challenges include limited job opportunities, lack of capital, and insufficient skills.

This project aimed to improve Early Childhood Development for children aged 3–8 across 15 ECD centers in five sub-counties. The project focused on strengthening IECD governance structures, enhancing parental awareness on child development and protection, building caregiver capacity and improving learning environments to support children’s smooth transition to primary school.

The Early Childhood Development program supports over 80 centers across various regions, reaching 7,920 children with help from 231 trained caregivers. The program promotes both home- and center-based care for children aged 0–5, guided by the National Integrated ECD Policy and Nurturing Care Framework. Using the Responsive and Protective Parenting Model, caregivers are equipped to support children’s holistic development, safety and well-being. Center-based support includes construction, training in play-based learning, provision of materials and caregiver capacity building.

This baseline analysis for the Come Play With Me project provided a foundational understanding of the current state of early childhood development in selected communities, focusing on children’s access to safe play, nurturing care and responsive parenting. Conducted to inform project design and implementation, the study captured insights into caregiver knowledge and practices, community perceptions of play-based learning and the availability of child-friendly spaces.

The Early Childhood Care and Education Improvement Project was a three-year initiative implemented by ChildFund Uganda in partnership with ChildFund Korea, aimed at supporting the growth and development of children aged 0–8 in six sub-counties of Busia District. The end-of-project evaluation assessed progress towards project outcomes, documented key lessons and captured community impact. Using a mixed-methods approach, the evaluation engaged 351 respondents including caregivers, ECD staff and school administrators, revealing significant participation from female caregivers and average household sizes of six, with most respondents aged between 31 and 60.