August 30, 2025
On Monday 25th August, an IECD delegation met with representatives of the Foreign Affairs Department (FAD). The delegation was led by Chairman Dr. Javier Rose, and included Vice Chairman Mr. Mohamed Afif, Chief Executive Officer Mrs. Shirley Choppy, and Mrs. Nathalie Moustache, Director for International Cooperation and Exchange.
The FAD Principal Secretary Mr. Ian Madeleine and team members—including Lindy Ernesta, Shirley Low-Meng, and Leeza Meme—welcomed the IECD-UNESCO CAT2 delegation to discuss ongoing international initiatives and explore new opportunities for collaboration aimed at strengthening Early childhood Care and Education (ECCE) both nationally and globally.
In her brief presentation, Mrs. Choppy outlined the Institute’s journey toward achieving UNESCO Category 2 status—from the initial application in 2019, through the review of the legal framework and the establishment of the governance structure, to its official inauguration in 2023 by the President of the Republic, Mr. Wavel Ramkalawan. She also highlighted current efforts to implement the priorities associated with this designation, as well as some of the challenges faced by the Institute.
Dr. Rose, and Mr. Ralph Agrippine, Principal Counsellor at the Department, and a member of the IECD Local Board, shared details of an innovative financing initiative. This initiative is designed to fund the technical programmes and operational activities of the Category 2 Institute, as well as other local ECCE activities. Its implementation emphasizes strong collaboration with the FAD and aims to further advance the quality of ECCE.
PS Madeleine congratulated the Institute on its significant milestones in ECCE and praised the country’s progress. As an educator by profession, he emphasized that establishing a strong foundation in early childhood is essential for future success. He also proposed additional strategies and resource mobilization opportunities that the country is currently leveraging, encouraging the Institute to consider their implementation.
Through robust partnerships, IECD-UNESCO CAT2 continues to transform innovative ideas into tangible impacts for young children worldwide.
