UNICEF South Africa, the Department of Social Development, the Department of Basic Education and the LEGO Foundation have developed and distributed easy to understand early learning activity sheets for parents and caregivers of children birth to 5 years. The early learning activities are playful and can be easily incorporated into daily routines using low-cost/no-cost resources. The activity sheets enable parents to support the early learning and development of their children while at home during the COVID-19 lockdown. Translation into the 11 South African languages is underway.Read More →

The Early Childhood Development Action Network (ECDAN) is hosting three webinars looking at the Countdown 2030 Country Profiles for Early Childhood Development and how they are linked to the Nurturing Care Framework.Read More →

On October 28, 2019, Senators Roy Blunt (R-MO), Chris Coons (D-DE), Representatives Joaquin Castro (D-TX) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) introduced the bipartisan, bicameral Global Child Thrive Act in the U.S. Senate.The Act will direct the U.S. administration to advance policies and programs that advance early childhood development internationally.Read More →

mother in Mozambique

In March 2019 the Ministry of Social Affairs, in collaboration with partners, introduced the Nurturing Care Framework and defined roles at national and provincial levels. The Framework was viewed as a positive resource for helping the government and partners harmonize their approach to early childhood development (ECD), and informing partners’ support programmes (UNICEF, PATH and the National ECD Network).Read More →

In October 2018 a multi-country stakeholders’ consultation took place in Nairobi, Kenya to operationalize the Nurturing Care Framework within the health sector (more). Following this meeting, in October 2018, the Ministry of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare hosted a national ECD conference in Malawi, at which the Nurturing Care Framework was presented.Read More →

At the 2018 G20 Leaders’ Summit, held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, the G20 leaders signed a declaration signaling prioritization for the early childhood development agenda. At the Partners’ Programme meeting, Argentine First Lady Juliana Awada promoted Argentina’s National Plan on Early Childhood.Read More →

The “Dubai Declaration on Early Childhood Development” identifies the elements and approaches for a holistic package of services for young children and their caregivers, ranging from stimulation and play to nutrition to parental livelihoods. The declaration also calls for these approaches to be backed by national policy, with regulations and incentives that can guide private sector investment alongside state prioritization of early childhood development.Read More →