Help shape City’s priorities for the Early Childhood Development (ECD) sector

09 September 2026

The City’s Community, Arts and Culture Development Department within the Community Services and Health Directorate continues to strengthen the ECD sector through partnerships, capacity building and sector development initiatives. This includes a series of four regional ECD conversations to guide the City’s priorities for the sector.

Throughout the year, the Community, Arts and Culture Development Department hosts compliance drives and roadshows in communities to engage the ECD sector on their journey to compliance.

Building on the success of the previous three ECD Indabas, the department will host four Regional ECD Conversations across Cape Town, culminating in the annual City of Cape Town ECD Indaba in 2027.

The regional conversations will provide practitioners, principals, NGOs, government departments, and sector partners with an opportunity to engage directly on regional challenges, identify solutions and contribute towards the City's annual ECD programme priorities and strategic plan.

The annual indaba will consolidate recommendations from all four regional engagements into a City-wide action plan.

The purpose of these conversations is to strengthen collaboration, knowledge sharing and innovation within the ECD sector.

‘Most of a child’s development occurs before age five and by investing in the sector, we are helping to shape cognitive abilities, emotional health and ensure future academic success. Previous indabas focused on supporting and training ECD operators, and with the upcoming conversations, we hope to create a platform for them to influence policy and service delivery. We’re enabling conversations around what they need and how we can work together towards solutions,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, Councillor Francine Higham.

The conversations will take place on the following dates in October and once more details are confirmed, they will be made public. Please keep an eye on our social media pages.

For more information on support provided to ECDs by Community, Arts and Culture Development, visit the City's website.

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