Dubai Cares, in partnership with UNICEF, supported the Republic of Kiribati in strengthening its early childhood education system as part of the broader Kiribati Development Plan—a national initiative co-funded by partners including the Asian Development Bank, DFAT, and the World Bank.

Kiribati, a remote Pacific Island nation of 33 atolls and reef islands with a population of approximately 102,000, faces serious educational challenges despite its commitment to the SDGs and the Pacific Education Development Framework (PEDF). The country’s economy relies largely on low-skilled labor and fishing, and access to quality early education remains limited. With 225 preschools nationwide, the pre-primary enrolment rate has dropped from 51% in 2005 to just 33%, leaving over 9,000 children of pre-primary age underserved.

This program focused on piloting a scalable and contextually appropriate pre-primary education model aligned with national goals. It provided technical assistance, policy analysis, and capacity building for Ministry of Education staff to address gaps in early childhood development and improve long-term educational outcomes for the youngest learners in Kiribati.