Peer-reviewed article
Early childhood development in the Republic of Guinea: a qualitative analysis of existing opportunities based on the perceptions of institutional and implementing stakeholders
Niouma TOLNO, Oumar BARRY, Pascal KAMANO ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-sonnet-5-5This qualitative study looks at what opportunities exist in Guinea to support the development of children aged 0 to 8. Twenty-one participants from 18 institutions, including state bodies, UN agencies, international NGOs and civil society groups, were interviewed in Conakry. Policy and programme documents were also reviewed. The stakeholders said Guinea has many opportunities, and that what is needed is for early childhood to become a national priority. The study notes that policies are often not backed by matching budgets.
Key points
- Public policies on early childhood development in Guinea are not always backed by budgets that match their ambitions.
- Political will is expressed more through official rhetoric than through fulfilled commitments.
- Stakeholders identified opportunities: existing social services, mobilised civil society and community groups, many committed partners, and mass media for awareness and education.
- Stakeholders also named undervalued mineral resources and a favourable political and framework as opportunities.
- Together these factors give leverage for a coordinated multisectoral response for children aged 0 to 8.
Limitations
The findings rest on the perceptions of 21 institutional and implementing stakeholders interviewed in Conakry, so they may not reflect the views of families, communities or other regions. The abstract does not report outcomes for children or evaluate any intervention.
Abstract
The positive benefits of the holistic development of children aged 0 to 8 are still not sufficiently understood or valued by families, communities and governments. Across the world, although many countries have the resources and potential, numerous children continue to suffer from neglect and various forms of violence. In Guinea, as in many other contexts, public policies designed to promote early childhood development are not always backed by budgetary resources commensurate with their stated ambitions. Political will is expressed more through official rhetoric than through concrete actions and commitments that are actually fulfilled. This limits the implementation of interventions and results in significant harm to children. Indeed, the aim of this research was to analyse, based on the perceptions of institutional and implementing stakeholders operating in Guinea, as well as policy and programme documents, the existing opportunities that could be harnessed to promote the harmonious development of children aged 0 to 8 in Guinea. Twenty-one participants from 18 institutions (state bodies, UN agencies, international NGOs and civil society organisations) took part in semi-structured interviews in Conakry between 21 November 2024 and 24 April 2025. These interviews revealed that the country is brimming with significant opportunities and that all that is needed is for early childhood to be made a national priority. The notable opportunities highlighted by these stakeholders include the existence of social services; the mobilisation of civil society and community groups; the large number of committed partners and stakeholders; the presence of the mass media to raise awareness, monitor, alert and educate families and children; the existence of mineral resources that are still undervalued; and the existence of a favourable political and framework. The presence of all these favourable factors provides significant leverage for a coordinated and effective multisectoral response in support of children aged 0 to 8. Keywords: early childhood development, Guinea, opportunities, stakeholders, favourable. Received Date: August 17, 2026 Accepted Date: September 09, 2026 Published Date: October 01, 2026 Available Online at: https://www.ijsrisjournal.com/index.php/ojsfiles/article/view/961