13 November 2024 by Limpho Sello

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‘Maselloane wakes her two children at 5 a.m., an hour before dropping them off at an Early Childhood Development and Education (ECDE) center in Thetsane.

The center doubles as both an ECDE and daycare facility, catering to children whose parents need to drop them off early and pick them up late in the evening.

As she leaves her one-room rented house, ‘Maselloane carries her youngest, two-year-old Thabo, on her back while holding five-year-old Selloane by the hand. In the same hand, she balances a black school bag containing breakfast and lunch for both children.

“Two months after my children started attending the school, the owner informed me she suspected that my youngest child might be malnourished,” said ‘Maselloane, who requested anonymity to protect her children’s identities, in an interview with Uncensored News.

The suspicion did not come as a surprise to her. “I can barely afford nutritious meals for my children. Sometimes, four fat cakes must serve as both breakfast and lunch for them,” explained the former textile factory worker, who walks to Thetsane Industrial Area every day in search of employment.

The ECDE owner advised Maselloane to consult a village health worker in her area, who then referred her to a health facility. Nurses at the facility confirmed that 2-year-old Thabo was indeed malnourished.

“Both children are now receiving Plumpy’nut and additional food. If it were not for the school, I might not have realised that my child was malnourished,” ‘Maselloane said.

Her story reflects the broader challenges of child nutrition in Lesotho, a concern highlighted at the Southern Africa Region Early Childhood Development and Education (ECDE) Conference held in Maseru on November 5, 2024.

Her Majesty Queen Masenate Mohato Seeiso, attending the event as a champion for children’s welfare, delivered a powerful keynote address, urging decision-makers to “remember that our efforts today will shape the lives of generations to come.”

“The decisions we make, the policies we advocate for and the investments we commit to will determine the trajectory of our children’s futures. Let us be bold in our vision and steadfast in our commitment,” said Queen Masenate Mohato Seeiso.

Nutrition as building block

On his part, World Food Programme Country (WFP) Representative Eliot Vhumuruku emphasised the critical importance of investing in nutrition and ECDE, framing it not only as a health issue but as a cornerstone for economic growth and resilience in the southern African region.

He highlighted a sobering reality: only 40 percent of children grow into productive adults due to missed opportunities in health, education, and nutrition.

“This has direct implications for the well-being of individuals, communities, and economies,” he explained.

Vhumuruku stressed that comprehensive investment in early childhood is critical, noting that the “first 1,000 days of a child’s life yield high returns—$16 for every dollar invested,” underlining nutrition as a building block for sustainable development.

“Currently, WFP supports over 54,000 children in 2,000 early childhood centers across the country, providing meals that not only meet daily nutritional needs but also contribute to cognitive and physical development,” Vhumuruku said.

These feeding programs, Vhumuruku stated, are the largest and best functioning social protection program, and play a vital role in reducing the financial burden on households.

“In some communities, school feeding programs account for as much as 10 percent of household expenditure for each child who participates, providing substantial resources to transfer to the poorest households,” he said.

He explained that a 2019 WFP-backed study, the Food and Nutrition Gap Analysis, highlighted that 56 percent of households in Lesotho, like that of ‘Maselloane, are unable to afford a nutritious diet.

“Providing nutritious meals through early childhood centers can bridge this gap, supporting children.”

Meanwhile, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Country Representative Deepak Bhaskaran emphasised that the first five years of a child’s life are the most crucial for brain development, with 85 percent of cognitive abilities formed by this age.

 “Without decisive action, we risk failing to build a resilient, capable workforce essential for sustainable growth,” said Bhaskaran.

Bhaskaran reminded the audience at the Maseru Southern Africa Region Early Childhood Development and Education (ECDE) Conference that investing in ECDE is “not an option but an obligation.”

He called for the private sector’s involvement in teacher training, infrastructure, and educational technology, underscoring that businesses stand to benefit from a well-trained, adaptable workforce equipped to drive economic growth.

“It Is a collective duty by the community, private sector and each of us that are here today. In fact, the private sector stands to benefit immensely by prioritising the early childhood development and education,” he said.

He added: “Strong early education is the foundation of creating a future workforce that can propel economic growth, adapting to emerging industries and innovate in an increasingly complex environment.”

Bhaskaran stated that the success of early education also relies heavily on parents and caregivers.

“Parents are the first educators for children, equipping them with knowledge on school readiness, as well as social and emotional skills, empowers them to guide children’s growth effectively.”

Home-grown solutions

Eliot Vhumuruku, World Food Programme Country Representative, argued that initiatives like the home-grown school feeding program promote locally sourced foods, strengthening the local economy by creating stable markets for about 300 farmers who participate

“In addition, through the home-grown school feeding, we actually deliver training in capacity strengthening, support almost local farmers providing them with a stable market for their produce,” he said.

Minister Limpho Tau from the Prime Minister’s Office underscored the importance of Lesotho’s commitment to early childhood development, supported by Her Majesty Queen Masenate Mohato Seeiso’s active involvement.

Tau noted, “Her Majesty’s commitment goes beyond words, demonstrated through her advocacy for policies that promote health, education, and welfare.”

Queen Masenate urged participants deliberating on the adoption of the draft SADC protocol for children—which seeks to formalise a multisectoral approach to child development across the region—to remember that a strong foundation is essential for a child’s well-being.

“I believe this protocol will be an important step in creating a comprehensive, coordinated and sustainable framework for advancing the well-being of a child in the South region,” Queen Masenate shared.