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Thrive

The study focuses on Early Childhood Development (ECD) perception and practices at the community level; this way they can identify opportunities and barriers for strengthening informal ECD provision.

Methodology:

Power Mapping: This mapping exercise will help us understand power dynamics within the community, who has the power to make or resist change?

Focus Group Discussions: These discussions will help us understand perceptions of and attitudes towards ECD as well as ECD practices.

Non-participant Observation: This exercise will trace ECD practices across the community focussing on child-carer interactions, where children play, what they are playing, their online presence and more.

Key Informant Interviews: The Interviews are held with ECD advocates to understand their current challenges and recommendations.

Team members:

Professor Mary Hodges- Principal Investigator

An experienced professor with over 30 years of experience working in non-profit and for-profit organizations. Professor Hodges is also in expert in epidemiology, child and reproductive health and urban food systems.

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Professor Paul Richards- Co Principal investigator

Professor Richards is a professor (Emeritus) of Technology and Agrarian Development and of Anthropology (Honorary). Professor Richards interests include a focus on cultural factors in decision making.

Regina Mamidy Yillah- Country Manager

Founder of IfD, holding a master’s in education. Regina has a profound understanding of Sierra Leone’s health systems and keen interest in public health and education.

Dr John Alimamy Kabba- Deputy Country Manager

A highly skilled healthcare provider and researcher, holding a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences with a specialisation in Social and Administrative Pharmacy. Dr Kabba is proficient in both qualitative and quantitative methodologies.

Emmanuel Foray- Community and Stakeholder Officer

Holds a MSc in Educational Leadership and Management and a Bachelor of Education (Honors) in early Childhood Care and Education.

Local Supervisors:

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Esther Yei Mokuwa

An Honorary Researcher at Njala University. Mokuwa holds a B.Eng. degree in Software Engineering and an M.Sc. degree in Engineering Management from the University of Greenwich (UK). Further Mokuwa holds a PhD in International Development Studies from Wageningen University (NL).

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 Tommy Matthew Hanson

 A Lecturer in the Department of Sociology and Social Work, School of Social Sciences and Law, Njala University. Hanson is an Honorary Fellow at the Department of Anthropology, Durham University and recently submitted his thesis for a PhD in Medical Anthropology, Njala University.

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Ahmed Vandi

Head of Department of the College of Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Njala University. Vandi holds a Higher Diploma in Community Health from the African Medical Research and Educational Foundation (AMREF) in Kenya and an MSc in the Control of Infectious Diseases from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), University of London and a PhD in Public Health, Njala University.

Local Junior Consultants:

  • Papa N’jai – holds BA and MA in Geography and an MSc in Development Administration.
  • Chernor Abdul Wahab Barrie – holds a B.Ed. in Early Childhood Care and MA in Education.
  • Hamid Turay – holds a BSc and Master’s degree in Public Health.
  • Foday Kamara – holds a BA and Master’s degree in Public Administration.
  • Francis Baigeh Johnson – holds a B.Ed. in Economics and a Master’s degree in Public Administration.

Research Assistants:

  • Alhaji K. Bangura – holds BSc in Public Health in Medical Laboratory.
  • Dennis Banday Mansaray – working towards a BSc in Public Health at the University of Makeni, Sierra Leone.
  • Abraham Isiaka Jimmy – holds a BSc in Public Health and an MPhil in Public Health in Health System Research and Management.
  • Tamba Matturie – holds a BSc and Master’s in Public Health.
  • Medrine Sama Koroma – holds a BA in Development Studies and an MA in Sustainable Development.
  • Lamarana Samuella Gibateh – holds a BSc in Public Health Laboratory Science.
  • Marion Baby- May Nyakoi – holds a BSc and MSc in Nutrition and Dietetics.
  • Joseph Christian Adamu Mboma – holds a B.Ed. in Geography and MSc in Environmental Sciences.
  • Mohamed Muctaru Bah – holds a BA in Professional Communication.
  • Madiana Nyahorta Sia Mensah- Gborie – holds a BA in Linguistics and Literature, an MA in Descriptive and Applied Linguistics and is working towards an MPhil in Linguistics at Njala University, Sierra Leone.
  • Abdulai Kandeh – holds a BSc in Geology.