Fostering Social Capital through NGO Engagement in Early Childhood Development in Iran: A Qualitative Policy Research Study

Document Type : Research/Original/Regular

Author

Department of Educational Sciences, Faculty of Psychology & Educational Sciences, Yazd University, Yazd. Iran

Abstract

Despite the substantial social capital of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) at both national and international levels, their capacities have rarely been leveraged over the past century to advance early childhood education and care (ECEC). In response to this longstanding gap, the present study explored stakeholder perspectives and experiences concerning the potential alignment between NGO capacities and the National Organization for Child Education (NOCE) to broaden access and enhance the quality of ECEC services. Framed as a policy-research study and conducted using a qualitative methodology, the research engaged 26 purposively selected participants, including managers, policymakers, experts, and NGO activists active in the preschool education sector, through semi-structured interviews, with data analyzed thematically. The study identified six strategic priorities to foster meaningful engagement from non-governmental, semi-governmental, and international actors: establishing a national information system to map the capacities of child-focused NGOs; designing mechanisms to build trust and maximize participation from the non-governmental sector; reinforcing social capital and empowering NGOs; developing evaluation and accreditation systems for educational materials and services; promoting accountability and professionalization within NGOs; and fostering informed, strategic cooperation with international organizations to access global resources and expertise. The findings of this study can inform the development of interaction frameworks between the NOCE and non-governmental organizations.

Keywords

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References

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Social Capital Management
Volume 12, Issue 3
October 2025
Pages 305-319

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