Special Needs and Inclusion Technical Working Group (SN & I TWG)

Special Needs and Inclusion Technical Working Group speaks specifically to policy, data, and implementation gaps on special needs and inclusion in the childcare ecosystem.

The TWG advocates for co-designed initiatives, sharing information and lessons learned, and catalyzing actors’ support toward the government’s vision for children.

In turn, these efforts will increase effectiveness and short-circuit the country’s special needs and inclusion processes.

The TWG’s inclusion target is children (0 to 5 years) and Women in Childcare with a focus on:

  • Disability and special needs inclusion and
  • Inclusion for children in special circumstances.

Children living with Disability without Access to Formal Education

Children under 4 Living with their Mothers in Prison

SN & I TWG Special Needs and Inclusion focused organizations per Community

Key Functions

The SN&I TWG is established by design to ensure no child or Women in Childcare is left behind. It encourages working together among partners and emphasizes practical and strategic commitments. It also enables the coordination of Special Needs and Inclusion activities in the country and aligns to the vision of the Collaborative Action for Childcare (CAC) to accelerate equitable, quality and affordable childcare for all in the country.

Towards achieving this objective, the key functions of TWG are:

  • To sensitize the society on special needs and inclusion by defining what is disability and creating awareness.
  • To conduct research on the state of special needs and inclusion.
  • To create policy briefs on children with special needs childcare.
  • To develop a special needs childcare framework based on the UN convention of rights of persons with disability (persons with disability Act)
  • To formulate childcare policy and regulations on persons with special needs
  • To develop a monitoring and evaluation tool for the persons with disability facilities.
  • To deliver services to Childcare workforce – Capacity building of the workforce (including nannies) and organizations that work with children with special needs and inclusion.
  • Codesign products and services for women in childcare and children with special needs.
  • To support development of an inclusive childcare curriculum

Membership

The SN & I TWG functions as a community of practice and consists of Special Needs and Inclusion focused organizations mapped across thematic areas in research, advocacy, women, childcare, child protection, disability, legal and government departments. The TWG includes relevant national and county government departments, research agencies, childcare enterprises, and other institutions within the childcare ecosystem.