
About the Project:
ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability South Asia’s Technical Support Unit (TSU) in
Meghalaya is supporting the Meghalaya Early Childhood Development Mission (MECDM),
with funding from the Van Leer Foundation, to strengthen shared understanding and
advance convergence across the Early Childhood Development ecosystem in the first 1000
days in Meghalaya.
The initiative focuses on two districts of West Garo Hills and East Khasi Hills, and integrates
the Paalan 1000 programme principles of parental wellbeing, parental coaching, positive
parenting, responsive caregiving and early stimulation into MECDM initiatives. Its objectives
include integrating the Paalan 1000 programme components within MECDM, pilot
innovative child-friendly spaces in Anganwadi Centres (AWCs), parks and Primary Health
Centres (PHCs), develop formative behavioural research tools and the SBCC approach, and
build a roadmap for capacity-building and ECD best-practices training for frontline workers.
Through technical assistance, policy support, and knowledge generation, the project aims to
strengthen the Meghalaya State ECD Policy Framework and develop interstate knowledge-
sharing resources.