Capacity Building in Communication: A Summary of the AfECN Training Series

The African Early Childhood Network (AfECN) hosted a virtual capacity-building series in the month of August 2025. The training series comprising six modules was designed to strengthen digital and analytical skills across the network. The sessions, which were facilitated by Digital 4 Africa, saw strong engagement from participants, with a total attendance of 888 (ranging from 85 to 256 participants per module), reflecting the high level of interest in these critical skill areas. The curriculum provided the AfECN community; including national networks, with practical, immediately applicable knowledge. Below is a summary of the key insights from each session.

Series Overview and Key Insights:

The training which began with Multimedia Content Creation & Management, attended by 166 members, focused on the use of tools like Canva and CapCut to enhance digital advocacy and storytelling. This was followed by a module on Crisis Communication & Reputation Management, attended by 256 participants that highlighted issues surrounding safeguarding organizational integrity through timely and transparent communication. The session on Donor & Stakeholder Communication, with 95 attendees, focused on moving beyond conventional reporting to using data-driven narratives that build trust and deepen engagement with partners.

In the Analytics & Impact Measurement module, 100 participants explored how to use platforms like Excel and Power BI to visualize data and link it to our Key Performance Indicators, strengthening reporting and decision-making. A critical session on Data Protection & Online Security, attended by 85 members, reinforced essential protocols needed to safeguard personal and organizational data from unauthorized access, misuse, or loss. The session highlighted the importance of secure technologies, policies, and user practices to better protect sensitive information. The series concluded with Making Full Use of AI, where 186 participants explored the potential of prompt engineering and automation tools to responsibly improve operational efficiency.

Live French and Portuguese translation was provided to promote inclusion and encourage active participation from all interested members of the diverse AfECN community. This series has played a pivotal role in enhancing the sector’s capacity to communicate with clarity and harness data for informed action. As a leading voice in early childhood development across Africa, AfECN remains dedicated to advancing digital excellence—equipping members of our community with the tools, skills, and confidence to drive transformative impact for young children and families throughout the region.