On June 28th, 2021, a coalition of partners launched a Call to Action urging for increased investment and scale-up of evidence-based initiatives to support caregivers. These partners, which include UNICEF, the World Health Organization (WHO), Partnership for Lifelong Health (PLH), the Early Childhood Development Action Network (ECDAN), and the Global Partnership to End Violence Against Children, are urging organizations of all types to take part in this call, including governments, global partnerships, multi- and bi-lateral agencies, political bodies, funders, international non-governmental organizations, faith-based organizations, the business sector, academia, civil society organizations, networks, and advocates.
 
Why now?
 
With the spread of COVID-19, parents and caregivers are experiencing unprecedented challenges, with children at great risk of not reaching their full potential. Now, more than ever, parents and caregivers have a pivotal role to play at the front lines of protecting their children from stress and promoting their development, health, and well-being. The pandemic has brought to the forefront the critical role of parenting, as well as the tremendous influence the home environment has on children’s lives.
 
The evidence is clear: parents and the environment at home are central pillars in supporting children’s health and development. The quality of parenting practices is a key determinant of every child’s ability to develop their cognitive, emotional, and social potential and resilience against adversity.
 
What can we do? 
 
Before COVID-19, at least 250 million young children were already at risk of not reaching their full potential. Now, UNICEF estimates that more than one billion children are facing that risk due to the increased isolation from school closures, the financial hardship of families, and the disruption of child protection, health, education, and other services because of the pandemic. The cost of inaction in support of parents will have long-term impacts on future human capital – and because of that, we must act now.

This unprecedented global crisis calls for an agile, coordinated, and unified global effort on behalf of ALL  parents and caregivers, especially the most vulnerable. We must work collectively to innovate, scale-up, generate evidence, and advocate for initiatives that support parents and caregivers.  Join us and grow the global movement in support of parents to secure a more resilient and promising future.