Wash In ECD

UNICEF, in collaboration with Yayasan Pembangunan Citra Insan Indonesia (YPCII), initiated the development of the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in Early Childhood Development (WASH in ECD) program in Indonesia. The initiative was established through partnerships with the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Health, and stakeholders in the water, sanitation, and early childhood education sectors to strengthen the integration of sanitation and hygiene issues within Early Childhood Development (ECD) services.

Despite strong evidence regarding the positive impact of WASH access on children’s health and development, access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities in schools and Early Childhood Education centers across Indonesia remains a significant concern. The limited availability of comprehensive WASH data within ECD services indicates that sanitation and hygiene conditions in many facilities may still be inadequate and require further improvement.

In line with UNICEF’s global WASH strategy and the latest Early Childhood Development program guidelines, WASH in ECD has become one of the organization’s priority areas. Therefore, more concrete actions were needed to strengthen the implementation of WASH in ECD programs in Indonesia. UNICEF partnered with YPCII, an organization recognized for its extensive experience and specialization in the WASH sector across both urban and rural communities.

YPCII has previously implemented various strategic programs, including Community-Based Total Sanitation (STBM) and School-Based Hygiene and Sanitation initiatives. The organization has also collaborated with several international agencies and private sector partners, including IUWASH, Plan International Indonesia, Americares, PT Tirta Investama, PT Freeport Indonesia through LPMAK, PT Epiroc Southern Asia, and PT Atlas Copco Indonesia.

As part of the program development process, a series of coordination meetings and consultations were conducted to strengthen collaboration between stakeholders in the water, sanitation, hygiene, and early childhood education sectors. Discussions focused on the importance of access to safe drinking water, proper sanitation, and hygiene education for young children, both at the household level and within Early Childhood Education services. Consultations with the Early Childhood Education Sub-Directorate of the Ministry of Education were also carried out during the preparation of guidelines, training modules, and healthy behavior education materials for ECD teachers.

Through this partnership initiative, several educational resources and supporting documents were successfully developed to strengthen the implementation of WASH in ECD in Indonesia, including:

• WASH in ECD Guidelines, including the Clean and Healthy Living Behavior (PHBS) Program Guidebook for Early Childhood Education services.
• A Clean and Healthy Living Behavior Training Module for Early Childhood Education teachers with a total duration of 270 minutes or three learning sessions.
• A pocketbook containing information on healthy living practices, recommended sanitation behaviors, and common illnesses affecting young children as a complementary educational resource for the training program.