September 12, 2024 – As key decision-makers and stakeholders from governments, the United Nations, civil society, philanthropy, the private sector, and academia convene in New York for the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and the Summit of the Future this September, ECDAN partners will be engaged in high-level discussions about what is needed to ensure every young child is well nourished, healthy, happy, learning, and safe.
Side Events Organized by ECDAN and Partners
During UNGA, side events are held to elevate specific issues and present solutions to inform and influence global leaders. This year, ECDAN is collaborating with partners on three events to mobilize collective action to support young children and their caregivers:
- Supporting Parents, Strengthening Business: A Path to Sustainable Development—The Global Initiative to Support Parents (a collaboration between UNICEF, the World Health Organization, ECDAN, Parenting for Lifelong Health at the University of Oxford, and the International Rescue Committee) will highlight how investing in parenting support is good for business, good for families, and good for sustainable development.
- ECDAN Partner Roundtable on Financing for Young Children and Their Families—During this meeting, partners will reflect on priorities and lessons learned from the past year, and we’ll do a deep dive on innovative financing for early childhood development.
- The Act for Early Years Symposium—This high-level symposium hosted by Theirworld in partnership with UNICEF, ECDAN, Sesame Workshop, and the Brookings Institution Center for Universal Education will convene stakeholders, policy experts, campaigners, and youth to hold a series of discussions about early childhood across three main themes: youth mobilization and advocacy, emergency and crisis situations, and innovative financing strategies.
In addition, we’ll be meeting with partners all week to identify areas for collaboration, promote the mission of ECDAN and our partners, and discuss strategies for a better future.
Lifting Up Your Voice
Want to engage in UNGA 2024? Even if you can’t attend UNGA, you can still help us advocate for young children. Here’s how:
- Sign our open letter on the Pact for the Future: We have issued an open letter to urge global leaders to collaborate to increase financing for the early years within the Pact for the Future. You can sign as an organization or an individual.
- Share your priorities: As we engage with global leaders and key stakeholders, what do you want us to share? Email us at [email protected] and let us know what is important to you.
- Become an official partner of ECDAN: Sign our partnership agreement to join the movement and connect with partners across the world working to support the needs of young children and their families.
Other Child-Focused Events During UNGA Week
Throughout the week, ECDAN will also meet with partners to identify areas for collaboration, promote the mission of ECDAN and our partners, and discuss strategies for a better future. Below are other child-focused events you might be interested in exploring during UNGA.
- September 16: Building Business Partnerships to Strengthen Our Future through Early Childhood Development, hosted by Childhood Education International.
- September 22: Building Coalitions to Advance SDG4: A Partner Networking Event, hosted by Global Schools Forum in collaboration with Cambridge Partnership for Education, EdTech Hub, HundrED, KW Strategy, Salzburg Global Seminar, and World’s Largest Lesson.
- September 22-23: Summit of the Future, hosted by the United Nations.
- September 23-24: Clinton Global Initiative, hosted by the Clinton Foundation.
- September 23: Every Child Can Learn: Mobilizing Support to Make Learning Inclusive, hosted by the Perkins School for the Blind.
- September 23: Theirworld High Level Advisory Group, hosted by Theirworld.
- September 23: How Can Children Build Resilience through Skills Development for Tomorrow’s Workplace?, hosted by the Learning Economy Foundation and Diplomatic Courier.
- September 24: Supporting Parents, Strengthening Business: A Path to Sustainable Development, hosted by the Global Initiative to Support Parents.
- September 24: Too Small to Fail, hosted by the Clinton Foundation.
- September 24: ECDAN Global Partnerships meeting, hosted by ECDAN.
- September 25: High Level ECD Symposium, hosted by Theirworld, ECDAN, UNICEF, and Sesame Workshop.
- September 25: Advocacy to Achieve the SDGs for Children, hosted by Global Health Advocacy Incubator.
- September 26: Advancing Primary Education amid Climate Change, Poverty and Conflict, hosted by Street Child.
By Brett Weisel, Global Policy and Advocacy Lead, ECDAN