The Department of Social Development appreciates the efforts by all Early Childhood Development programmes which have thus far participated in the application process for the ECD Stimulus Package which is part of the Presidential Employment Stimulus package.
Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres continue to play a meaningful role in the lives of children. The first 1 000 days of life for children, are pivotal for a child’s human development. Optimising the early years of children’s lives is the best investment the country can make in ensuring the children’s future is a success. Early Childhood Development also contributes to income generation of majority of women and youth in our country.
Since the launch of the call for applications for Early Childhood Stimulus package on the 15th of February, ECD operators have been hard at work to apply. As of 13 February, 7 343 ECD applications were completed which translates to 35 794 of registered ECD employees. 27 068 ECD Users were also registered on GOVCHAT.APP
The department would like to thank all ECD operators who have applied; and encourages those who have not yet done so to do so as soon as possible, before the closing date of Friday, the 19th of February 2021, to ensure that NO ECD IS LEFT BEHIND; Remember: “every child counts.”
The department would like to express its appreciation to all partners in the sector that are working with us on this important initiative and continue to do so on other ECD related matters.
Special appreciation goes to the ECD Inter-Sectoral Forum, the Nelson Mandela Foundation, UNICEF, DGMT, Ilifa la Bantwana, Impande and Govchat. Most importantly the sector as a whole for their cooperation and commitment to this initiative.
Applications should be made on the following link: https://govchat.app
Before making an application, applicants must ensure that they have the following in place:
Banking account: All ECD services making an application will need to have a bank account in the name of the ECD service. If the ECD service does not currently have such an account, they will need to open one before making an application;
Loaded on the Central Supplier Database (CSD): ECD services that do not currently receive funding from Provincial DSD will need to be registered on the CSD database, which can be done via this link: https://secure.csd.gov.za/Account/Register. The registration number generated from the CSD database will be required for the stimulus application.
Application enquiries and more information about this funding may be directed to the Contact Centre by using the Toll-Free Number 0800 089 666 or alternatively visit www.dsd.gov.za website. Applicants will be directed to relevant local Social Development offices and the Non-Profit Organisations (NPOs) supporting ECD operators during application process.
Media enquiries may be forwarded to Ms Lumka Oliphant on 083 484 8067 or lumkao@dsd.gov.za
