ISSA Strategic Goals

Over the years, ISSA has defined its activities through core child-centered approaches and family and community engagement, with an emphasis on diversity and social inclusion, as well as quality and accessibility of education. Continuing along the same lines , in 2009-2012 ISSA will focus on four strategic goals. These goals were set in the context of ISSA's longer-term vision and will most likely continue to guide its work over the coming ten years. Taking into account the diversity in the ISSA region, activities will be carried out using the operational mechanisms listed below.

ISSA's four strategic goals for the period 2009-2012 are:

1. Promote access and equity of care and education for young children in the region

   ISSA's strategic goal is to contribute to the development of full potential and to ensure equal access to quality care and education for all children, as an imperative of child's rights, with special emphasis on children from disadvantaged socioeconomic groups, from isolated rural areas and from other vulnerable groups, such as ethnic/language minorities and children with disabilities.

   To achieve this strategic goal, ISSA will pursue the following objectives:

   1. Increase awareness of the importance of investing in the early years, and of providing equal access to high quality services for children from from birth through primary school

   2. Promote the provision of diverse high quality services and programs

   3. Influence policy development, implementation and evaluation of quality ECD services that target specific groups with no access to services: most vulnerable and disadvantaged

   4. Combat racial/ethnic bias and discriminatory practices in children's care and education

2. Promote high quality and professionalism in providing care and education for young children

   ISSA's strategic goal is to contribute significantly to promoting and implementing quality care and education for all children, with special emphasis on development and education in the early years, and for children of preschool and primary school age

   ISSA will pursue the following objectives:

   1. Promote integrated, holistic approaches to address child development in the early years (health, nutrition, education)

   2. Contribute to the development of common understanding among different stakeholders - parents, practitioners, decision makers - regarding the definition of quality services across different age groups (with an increased emphasis on child's outcomes and development of competences for life-long learning)

   3. Promote application of a research-based definition of quality and professionalism in providing care and education for young children

   4. Influence policy development to promote implementation and evaluation of services that offer high level quality care and education for all young children in the region

   5. Promote and support the professionalization of ECD services

3. Promote civil society participation, community-based ECD and parental education

   ISSA's strategic goal is to help ensure greater support for and inclusion of family, as well as community participation, in children's development and learning.

   ISSA will pursue the following objectives:

   1. Promote efficient models of community-based ECD

   2. Increase public awareness of the importance of children's home learning environment

   3. Promote and support parental education in different forms

   4. Promote perceiving children as equal citizens with their needs as priority for society at all levels

   5. Promote acquiring knowledge, skills and dispositions needed for active participation in a democratic society

   6. Support civil society participation in ECD policy development and implementation

   7. Help ensure that children's and parents' voices are heard and taken into account

4. Enhance the capacity of the ISSA network to deliver its strategy

   ISSA's strategic goal is to develop the skills of its membership, ensure good governance practices and management systems to achieve its program/advocacy goals and to build the sustainability of the association in the medium to long term.

   ISSA will pursue the following objectives:

   1. Achieve stronger impact by broadening ISSA's membership and enhancing the professional and organizational capacity of all members

   2. Enhance the capacity, engagement and ownership of the Board, Council, Secretariat, Program Committee, SIGs and Regional Anchors

   3. Develop strong human resources and quality management standards in the network

   4. Ensure ISSA's  programmatic and financial sustainability

   5. Support members in ensuring their programmatic and financial sustainability

   OPERATIONAL MECHANISMS

   In order to pursue its mission and achieve the strategic goals and objectives outlined in this plan, ISSA will use four operational mechanisms. Each of these tools will be used in an integrated approach and in a coordinated manner for the realization of the goals and objectives identified in this plan. For instance, for promoting quality care and education in ECD services, ISSA will use a range of mechanisms ranging from capacity building (using the ISSA Pedagogical Standards for training and professional development), to public awareness and advocacy to achieve this goal.

   Professional Capacity Building/Strengthening Professionalism in Education

   Advocacy and Public Information/Education

   Organizational Capacity Building

   Networking and Network Representation

   ISSA will apply the following Integrated Operational Model:

                                               Strategic Goals

   
   

                                                    Outputs

5. Learn more:

   ISSA Philosophy

   ISSA Structure

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