UNESCO Cairo office in collaboration with AGFUND and the Egyptian Ministry of Education developed a pioneer project on childhood care and education.  The project began its operations in 2003.  Since then, it has:

• Developed a model early childhood center
• Built the capacities of over 630 trainers, teachers, and academicians in the area of ECCE in Egypt, the Arab region and other developing countries
• Developed a number of documents including:
• A model curriculum
• A comprehensive strategy for early childhood development in Egypt
• Teachers training guide
• A comprehensive teachers training kit

In addition to that, the project acted as a center of excellence and a training center for the Arab Region.  The success of the project has led AGFUND to fund a second phase starting in 2009.  Furthermore, AGFUND showed interest to extend the project.  AGFUND will make the center an international one and use it for the E-9 countries and south-south cooperation.  UNESCO Cairo office is in the process of developing the project document for this extension.