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Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is Bangladesh ECD Network (BEN)?

Bangladesh ECD Network is a forum of governmental, non-governmental, United Nations organizations, and donor agencies working with ECD in Bangladesh. The Network was formally established on 7 September 2005 as forum for sharing information and experiences regarding ECD and increase cooperation among members.

 

2. What is the Goal of Bangladesh ECD Network?

To encourage and support governmental, non-governmental, national and international organizations, partners, and other relevant actors in their commitment and investment in ECD in Bangladesh.

 

3. What are the Objectives of the Network?

  • The objectives of Bangladesh ECD Network are as follows:
    Advocate for and support the government in preparing and implementing a national policy and framework for ECD initiatives throughout the country

  • Promote public awareness about the importance of ECD and provide caregivers with support and information on how to practice age appropriate interactive care

  • Strengthen ECD capacity in Bangladesh by ensuring co-ordination of ECD activities and convergence of ECD best practices among partners

  • Support the establishment of a solid knowledge base and organisational culture on ECD, as well as facilitating a common understanding of the concept of ECD and of the whole child approach underlying ECD efforts within the network

  • Support ECD partners in sharing information about ECD activities and research as well as ensuring that the same partners can gain easy access to new information and knowledge on ECD

  • Ensure that ECD information is collected, analysed and disseminated to ECD network partners and other relevant actors

  • Develop generic guidelines for the development of ECD materials and activities and promote their use in a coordinated and concerted effort to ensure that all young children in Bangladesh receive age appropriate ECD care.


4. What are the Major Activities of ECD Network?

The major activities of Bangladesh ECD Network are as follows:

  • Advocate for and support the government in preparing and implementing a national policy and framework for ECD initiatives throughout the country

  • Promote public awareness about the importance of ECD and provide caregivers with support and information on how to practice age appropriate interactive care

  • Strengthen ECD capacity in Bangladesh by ensuring co-ordination of ECD activities and convergence of ECD best practices among ECD partners

  • Support the establishment of a solid knowledge base and organisational culture on ECD, as well as facilitating a common understanding of the concept of ECD and of the whole child approach underlying ECD efforts within the network

  • Support ECD partners in sharing information about ECD activities and research as well as ensuring that the same partners can gain easy access to new information and knowledge on ECD

  • Ensure that ECD information is collected, analysed and disseminated to ECD network partners and other relevant actors

  • Develop generic guidelines for development of the ECD materials and activities and promote their wide use in a coordinated and concerted effort to ensure that all young children in Bangladesh receive age appropriate ECD care.

5. Who are the Members?

Any organisation working in promoting early learning and children’s cognitive development in Bangladesh can be enrolled in the network. This includes organisations that:

  • Work with cognitive, linguistic, emotional and social development aspects of ECD
  • Advocates for early learning and cognitive, linguistic, emotional and social development aspects of ECD
  • Provide training in or training related to cognitive, linguistic, emotional and social development aspects of ECD
  • Develop materials for early learning and cognitive, linguistic, emotional and social development aspects of ECD
  • Have expertise in the field of cognitive, linguistic, emotional and social development aspects of ECD
  • Fund activities for cognitive, linguistic, emotional and social development aspects of ECD
  • Conduct research or demonstrate that they are working with cognitive, linguistic, emotional and social development aspects of ECD


6. What are the Responsibilities of Network Members?

The responsibilities of a network member includes:

  • Attending and participating in network meetings
  • Ensureing information sharing on ECD activities with the network
  • Building close relations with other ECD partners
  • Keeping liaisons with the network secretariat and acting as an active ECD partner when required by the network
  • Advocating for the network and seeking to enroll potential new members
  • Supporting the sustainability of the network either through funding or providing voluntary assistance

7. What are the Benefits of Network Membership?

An organisation subscribing to the Bangladesh ECD Network membership receives several benefits such as:

  • Subscription to the quarterly newsletter published by Bangladesh ECD Network.

  • Complementary copies of the ECD Directory, posters, booklets, reports and other publications.
  • Access to the interactive Bangladesh ECD website (www.ecd-bangladesh.net).
  • Invitation to the regional meetings, seminars, BEN Annual General Meetings and workshops. There is also access to the pooled expertise of the ECD field of Bangladesh through technical assistance, responses to particular requests for information, formal and informal discussions, and written updates.
  • Establish a close relation among the Network members.


8. How to Get the Membership?

Bangladesh ECD Network invites requests for membership periodically by advertising in daily newspapers. The interested organisations are to apply by completing application forms made available by the Network Secretariat. After initial sorting, the Executive Committee will consider the requests and take a decision about membership.
Membership applications are considered based on the above mentioned criteria for membership. Political, religious, cultural or ethnical grounds or reasons related to differences in values or beliefs are not considered in offering membership.

 

9. What is the Executive Committee of the Network?

To facilitate structure and direction of the network, it is envisaged that network members elect an Executive Committee, comprising:

  • One Chairperson - elected bi-annually to serve a period of 2 years. The chairperson is responsible for coordination of activities and will be the spokesperson of the committee.

  • One Vice Chairperson - elected bi-annually and taking on the same responsibilities in the absence of the chairperson

  • One Member Secretary - elected bi-annually to serve a period of 2 years. The secretary shall be responsible for ensuring that the secretariat prepare and circulate meeting minutes, keep records, and will schedule meetings and perform other administrative duties as required by the committee.

  • Six Committee Members - elected bi-annually and responsible for taking the initiative and providing inputs for organising network activities and ensuring that the network is functioning satisfactorily.

10. What are the Responsibilities of the Executive Committee?

The responsibilities of the committee include:

  • Plan and organise fundraising activities according to budget needs
  • Prepare annual budgets for the network and ensure budget accountability
  • Identify, plan and organise relevant network activities
  • Prepare and distribute annual network activity plans
  • Approve new memberships
  • Ensure that the network directory and website is updated on a regular basis
  • Supervise the secretariat in performing its duties
  • Delegate required network tasks to network members
  • Represent the network domestically and internationally according to availability of funds
  • Establish advisory and consultation structures including:
    • A formal expert consultation team
    • An inter-ministerial co-ordination team for ECD
    • Lead fundraising and ensure adequate availability of funds to maintain the sustainability of the network

11. What is the Secretariat of ECD Network?

The secretariat was established to support the network in general and is under the supervision by the Executive Committee. In order to ensure the sustainability and continuity of the secretariat, it is placed with the Early Childhood Development Resource Centre (ECDRC) under of BRAC University Institute of Educational Development (BU-IED). The centre serves as a strong partner in collecting information about ECD in Bangladesh and shares this with all network partners.

 

12. What are the Responsibilities of the Secretariat?

The responsibilities of the secretariat include:

  • Supporting the Executive Committee in its work

  • Performing all administrative duties of the network including servicing members, organising and updating files, database, directory and web-site

  • Planning and organising network activities according to the Annual Activity Plan

13. What is the Future Plan of ECD Network?

As network partners, the members of the working group will continue supporting the ECD Network to become relevant and functional. This involves the provision of the following support if requested by the committee:

  • Preparing relevant documents for the smooth running of the Network
  • Expanding the Network
  • Updating and publishing ECD Directory
  • Maintaining the ECD website and updating and making it interactive
  • Enriching the volume and quality of Bangladesh ECD Newsletter
  • Publishing annual activity reports of Bangladesh ECD Network
  • Publishing and disseminating programme highlights/research summaries/policy updates
  • Developing and disseminating ECD documentary films, posters, leaflets, magazines etc.
  • Organising Annual General Meetings/ECD seminar once a year
  • Fund raising for Network members’ capacity building
  • Participating in international networks
  • Attending international ECD conferences/seminars/symposiums through the Network
  • Makeing the Secretariat accessable to all members as a centre of ECD resources
  • Supporting media campaigns for advocay for ECD