DHAKA : A six-day professional training on “Early Childhood Development and Professional Childcare Management”, including a one-day practical learning visit to two professional daycare centres, was successfully organised for Dhaka WASA officials, a press release said.

The training was conducted by Nurture360, with the objective of strengthening the capacity of Dhaka WASA personnel to manage and improve its existing daycare services while building a stronger understanding of Early Childhood Development (ECD), responsive caregiving, child safety, learning through play, health and hygiene, and professional childcare management.

A total of 22 participants took part in the training. The participants represented a diverse range of roles within Dhaka WASA, including a Senior Medical Officer, Executive Engineers, Deputy Secretary of the Labour and Welfare Division, nurses, childcare teachers and caregivers.

The training was led by Samiya Tasmeen, Lead Consultant, Nurture360, along with Ratan Sarkar and Linza Dipa Mondol. All three trainers are professionals with expertise in early childhood education and childcare. The sessions combined practical demonstrations, group activities, case discussions, reflection exercises and hands-on learning to help participants connect ECD concepts with their day-to-day responsibilities.

The training concluded with a certificate-giving ceremony held on 18 August 2026. Certificates were handed over to the participants by Md. Aminul Islam, Managing Director, Dhaka WASA. He is an retired Secretary, Government of Bangladesh. Md. Abdul Hye Milton, Secretary, Dhaka WASA and Deputy Secretary of the Government of Bangladesh and Md. Wahidul Islam Murad, Superintending Engineer and Project Director, Dhaka Environmentally Sustainable Water Supply Project, Dhaka WASA, were also present at the ceremony.

The training was organised under the Dhaka Environmentally Sustainable Water Supply Project and supported through financing from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), European Investment Bank (EIB), and Agence Française de Développement (AFD).

Speaking about the initiative, Nurture360 highlighted that quality daycare requires more than supervision and basic care. It requires trained caregivers, safe and nurturing environments, developmentally appropriate activities, responsive interaction with children, effective routines and systems, and continuous attention to children’s individual needs.

The completion of this training marks an important step towards strengthening the capacity of Dhaka WASA’s daycare services and promoting a more professional, child-centred approach to early childhood care and development.