City secures major multi-million rand grant for early childhood development, violence prevention
23 January 2026
The City of Cape Town has formally signed a landmark grant agreement with the German Development Bank, KfW, securing €15 million (approximately R300 million) to strengthen early childhood development (ECD), improve regulatory compliance, and support violence prevention interventions in vulnerable communities across the city.
The report authorising the agreement for the funding was signed off by the Executive Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis during the Council recess, in terms of his executive authority.
The funding, provided by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) on behalf of the German Government and administered through KfW, forms part of a broader €27,5 million programme aimed at improving outcomes for young children, caregivers and families in selected high-need districts of Cape Town.
Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, Alderman Eddie Andrews, welcomed the agreement, describing it as a transformative investment in Cape Town’s future.
‘This partnership with KfW is a strong vote of confidence in the City’s financial governance and its ability to responsibly manage large-scale international funding in the public interest. This funding enables the City to strengthen early childhood development in vulnerable communities by improving safe and compliant ECD infrastructure, supporting ECDs to meet regulatory requirements, expanding outreach and practitioner training and reinforcing violence-prevention and referral support for children, caregivers and families,’ said Alderman Andrews.
The project will focus on selected districts and combine infrastructure investment with social development interventions to strengthen ECD services, improve safety and enhance institutional coordination.
Alderman Andrews said the programme is deliberately designed to address both physical and systemic barriers facing the ECD sector.
‘Too many ECD centres operate under difficult conditions that make compliance and sustainability challenging. This programme supports infrastructure upgrades, safer public spaces, professional training and regulatory alignment, ensuring that ECDs can operate legally, safely and with dignity,’ he added.
‘Quality early childhood development plays a critical role in shaping long-term health, safety and social outcomes. This programme responds to real gaps at community level by strengthening frontline ECD services, improving access to support and referral pathways, and ensuring that children, caregivers and families receive the right assistance, at the right time and in the places where it is most needed,’ said Mayoral Committee Member of Community Services and Health, Councillor Francine Higham.
City contribution and implementation
In addition to the €15 million grant, the City will contribute infrastructure investment, operational and maintenance support.
The initiative will also build on synergies with previous KfW-supported projects in Cape Town, including skills development and youth outreach programmes.
‘This agreement reflects a shared commitment between the City and our international partners to invest in prevention, opportunity and long-term resilience. It is a significant step forward for Cape Town’s ECD sector and for the thousands of children whose futures depend on it,’ Alderman Andrews said.
Photo here (Caption: Councillor Francine Higham; David Harrison, DGMT CEO; Alderman Eddie Andrews; Tim Heinemann, Project Manager at KfW Development Bank and Executive Director of the City’s Spatial Planning and Environment, Rob McGaffin).
Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
