This paper focuses on the use of indigenous knowledge in development, and especially in early
childhood development practices and policies. It examines the Early Childhood Development
Virtual University (ECDVU) program, which provides distance education capacity building
programs in Africa. In particular, the article describes the generative curriculum model in which
students contribute to the learning process by bringing indigenous knowledge and practices into the
curriculum. The approach bears on ECD practice and curricula by seeking to better ground programs
and policy in local, accepted, successful practices. By integrating indigenous knowledge into higher
education addressing ECD, the ECDVU promotes more appropriate cross-cultural curriculum
content, which can lead to more effective ECD policies and programs.