2013年-世界发展银行全球_Yemen_Early_Childhood_Development___SABER_Country_Report_2013_28页_1mb

Summary of Yemen's Early Childhood Development (ECD) Policy and Status

Core Content

Yemen is a country with a young and growing population, approximately 25 million people, of which about 5.8 million are under the age of 8. The country faces significant challenges in early childhood development (ECD), including poverty, violence, instability, and widespread malnutrition. The SABER-ECD framework is used to evaluate ECD policies and programs in Yemen, highlighting the need for an enabling environment, widespread implementation, and monitoring and quality assurance.

The National Strategy for Early Childhood Development (2011-2015) has been developed by the Government of Yemen (GoY) to expand access and improve the quality of ECD services. However, the strategy lacks cost estimates and full implementation funding, and the country's ECD sector is characterized by weak institutional capacity, inadequate funding, and inequity in service access between urban and rural areas, as well as between different socioeconomic groups.

Key Policy Goals

1. Establishing an Enabling Environment

• Legal Framework: Yemen has some laws promoting ECD, such as the Children's Rights Law (2002) and the Yemeni Constitution, which recognize education and health as rights and emphasize the protection of motherhood and childhood. However, the legal framework is still underdeveloped, with limited enforcement and coverage.
• Inter-sectoral Coordination: The High Council for Motherhood and Childhood (HCMC) serves as the central coordinating body for ECD. It brings together government ministries, civil society, and other stakeholders. However, coordination mechanisms are not well-established and lack regularity.
• Finance: The ECD sector suffers from inadequate funding and weak financial systems, which hinder the sustainability and scalability of programs.

2. Implementing Widely

• Nutrition and Health Programs: Current nutrition programs do not adequately address the needs of young children and pregnant women. The infant mortality rate is 57 deaths per 1,000 live births, and the under-5 mortality rate is 77 deaths per 1,000 live births, both significantly higher than regional peers.
• Preschool Access: The gross pre-primary enrollment rate in Yemen is only 1%, far below the regional average. Most preschools are private and concentrated in urban areas.
• Service Inequity: There is a significant disparity in access to ECD services between urban and rural areas, and between wealthy and poor families.

3. Monitoring and Assuring Quality

• Data Collection: Limited data on ECD access and outcomes are available, and there is a lack of comprehensive monitoring systems.
• Quality Standards: Few established standards for ECD services exist, and mechanisms to ensure compliance are minimal.
• Need for Improvement: A more robust system is required to track ECD outcomes and ensure the quality of services.

Key Recommendations

• Promote Breastfeeding: The GoY should launch a public awareness campaign to promote breastfeeding, especially exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life. This can be supported by Arabic language materials, Islamic advocacy, and training for healthcare workers.
• Strengthen Legal Framework: Develop and enforce child protection laws, including special children's courts, child abuse tracking systems, and policies for children with disabilities.
• Enhance Inter-sectoral Coordination: Establish a regular meeting schedule for ECD coordination bodies and improve multi-sectoral collaboration.
• Secure Funding: Increase financial resources and ensure transparent and efficient allocation to support ECD programs.
• Expand Service Coverage: Improve access to ECD services in rural and underserved areas, and ensure universal coverage for all children and families.

Regional and International Comparisons

Parental Leave Policies

Child Protection and Social Services

• Birth Registration: Mandatory but low in practice (22% between 2005-2011).
• Child Abuse: High prevalence of violent discipline (95% of caregivers reported using it in 2005-2011).
• Orphan and Vulnerable Children: There are 30 orphanages, managed by the MoSAL's Care and Rehabilitation program, with monthly cash assistance.
• Special Needs Children: Policies exist for inclusion, but there is no explicit strategy for ECD access.

Conclusion

Yemen is at the "Emerging" stage of ECD policy development, with some legal and institutional structures in place but lacking in implementation and monitoring. The country needs to strengthen its legal framework, inter-sectoral coordination, and financial systems to ensure equitable access and quality of ECD services. Drawing on international examples such as Brazil, Yemen could improve ECD outcomes through targeted awareness campaigns, community engagement, and policy reforms.