Rich in interdisciplinary insight and grounded in local realities, this book makes an important contribution to the growing body of research aimed at improving developmental outcomes for vulnerable children in South Africa and beyond.

UNICEF published a global report that reveals how the rapid global expansion of pesticide use is creating harm that is underestimated for children globally. The report calls for urgent, coordinated regulatory, agricultural, health-system and societal action.

UNICEF published a practical guide designed to help practitioners and advocates apply behavioral science to protect children from environmental health threats. It is built around the REACH framework: recognize, engage, act, context, habit.

The Moving Minds Alliance compiled and published a collection of reflections on the well-being and rights of young children affected by climate change, championing contextually grounded evidence and locally led innovations in crisis response.

This retrospective provides a historical account on the Consultative Group for Early Childhood Care and Development that operated from 1984-2014 and helped to elevate early childhood on the global stage and paved the way for ECDAN's founding.

UNICEF’s 2026 report reveals how climate risks disproportionately affect vulnerable children, threatening their rights, health, and wellbeing.

World Bank review highlights rapid growth in childcare investments and their benefits for families and economies.

Results for Development developed a toolkit that equips health sector decision-makers to identify where and how to strengthen primary health care in support of young children’s optimal development.

Global data reveals major gaps in children’s access to play, calling for stronger support to help families make play part of daily life.

By Lola Ayanda,  Charlotte Davidi and  Katie Murphy, Moving Minds Alliance   June 3, 2026 – In the outskirts of Maiduguri, in northeast Nigeria, Falmata Mohammed keeps her family going one day at a time. Displaced by conflict in Borno State, she and her husband, Mohammed, […]

The Partnership for a Lead-Free Future produced a framework that provides a shared direction to drive collective action, align existing efforts, clarify roles and expectations, and create a common reference for partners.

May 26, 2026 – ECDAN sent out its quarterly newsletter with news highlights, resources, upcoming events, and more.

A new article explores why women’s economic empowerment cannot be achieved through individual resilience alone. Drawing on experiences from urban markets across Africa, the piece highlights how women traders continue to balance income generation with unpaid caregiving responsibilities—often without adequate support systems. It argues that investing in care infrastructure, including accessible childcare in market spaces, is essential for advancing gender equality, strengthening livelihoods, and supporting children’s development. Featuring examples from South Africa and Rwanda, the article calls for a shift from empowerment rhetoric toward systemic solutions that enable women and families to thrive.

Government representatives from sectoral ministries and ministries of finance joined philanthropists, program implementers, finance experts, and advocates from countries across five continents in Kigali for Investing in the Early Years: A Global Technical Financing Forum. The Forum took place over three days, May 6-8, and included presentations and workshop sessions led by global leaders and experts committed to advancing sustainable financing for early childhood development (ECD).

UNICEF and partners published a brief that presents findings from a global mapping of parenting programs that aim to prevent violence against children and against women while advancing gender equality. It offers practical guidance for policymakers, program designers, and implementers.