Knowledge Fellows

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The ECDAN Knowledge Fellows program creates opportunities for early-career ECD professionals around the globe to receive professional development, mentorship, and networking connections while working on a project that advances ECDAN’s learning goals. Launched in 2021, the program is based on the belief that supporting early-career ECD professionals to develop their skills, knowledge, and professional connections will not only help them increase their interest in continuing in the ECD field but also enrich conversations in the global early childhood sector by elevating their perspectives and voices. Track the progress of former Fellows in our latest blogs.

Steering Committee

The Knowledge Fellows program is managed by ECDAN’s Secretariat with guidance from a steering committee. Knowledge Fellow steering committee members help to select the Fellows and Mentors, shape the design of the program, and assure its quality. Steering committee members are primarily academics specializing in ECD who are experienced working with students to generate new knowledge in the field. They volunteer their time and without their support, and that of the Mentors, this program would not be possible.

No Results Found

Learn more about ECDAN’s Knowledge Fellows program by meeting the impressive individuals in the current and past cohorts.

Sixth Cohort

Ifrah Rafaqat

Pakistan

Project Output: An advocacy brief that government stakeholders can use in preparation for the Second Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children Conference with recommendations for pledges related to parenting support and evidence of progress since the last Conference.

Ifrah is a Child Nutrition and Development Officer based in Islamabad, Pakistan, currently serving as a United Nations Volunteer with UNICEF. She completed her master’s degree in public health focused on community health promotion as a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Minnesota in the US. Ifrah also holds a master’s degree in healthcare biotechnology. Ifrah’s journey to work in the field of ECD is deeply personal. Following her child’s autism spectrum diagnosis, she navigated both the uncertainty and resilience often experienced by families raising neurodivergent children. This turning point transformed her into a passionate advocate for inclusive, responsive, and compassionate systems of care.

Nyasha Manyeruke

Zimbabwe

Project Output: An advocacy brief that highlights key interventions that can be implemented within early childhood settings and provides concrete, actionable recommendations to governments and implementers related to preventing lead poisoning.

Nyasha is from Zimbabwe and currenty serving as a researcher at the African Centre of Excellence for Population Health and Policy. In this role she focuses on data translation and analytics for surveillance programs that support women’s and child health. Nyasha is a medical doctor whose clinical experience working at the largest pediatric hospital in Zimbabwe shaped her early connection to ECD. She encountered children with health ailments linked to toxic environmental exposures, deepening her interest in the relationship between environmental harm and child wellbeing. This experience led her to develop skills as an advocate, first through an op-ed piece she wrote for Health Times Zimbabwe on cement dust pollution in Mabvuku, and later through her graduate program. Nyasha holds an master’s degree in international health and tropical medicine from the University of Oxford and a medical degree from the University of Zimbabwe.

Mariama Sidibe

France / Guinean-American

Project Output: An advocacy brief that explores the evidence, key challenges, and cross-sectoral approaches to ensuring young children with disabilities are identified and provided with the supports they need to thrive.

Mariama is a global citizen, originally from Guinea, raised in the US, and currently residing in France. She is an experienced early childhood educator and is currently working as an Individualized English Instructor. Mariama holds a master’s in public policy from Sciences Po Paris, where she specialized in social policy and social innovation, as well as a bachelor’s degree in international relations from the University of Washington. She has worked directly with young children in high-needs primary and pre-primary schools and brings an intersectional lens to addressing socioeconomic disparities in education. Mariama’s personal connection to ECD is rooted in her lived experiences as a first-generation immigrant to the US and as an early years professional. She is eager to grow her advocacy skills though already as experience with grassroots organizing for racial minorities and promoting inclusion within education and corporate settings.

Regina Penalva Orozco

Mexico

Project Output: An advocacy brief that makes a clear investment case for interventions targeting early trauma with key evidence about why it matters, examples of approaches that are effective, and recommendations for policymakers.

Regina is a child rights and early childhood practitioner with over five years of experience across education institutions, nonprofits, and social impact organizations in Latin America. Originally from Mexico, she is currently a Programme Management Officer at Coram International,based in the UK, where she supports the delivery and operations of a portfolio of child rights projects globally. Regina holds an master’s degree in international child rights and development from King’s College London. She is passionate about creating more equitable, developmentally appropriate, and culturally meaningful environments for children and believes it is essential building a more just and equitable society.

Fifth Cohort

The fifth cohort disseminated their work in a webinar on November 19, 2025. View the recording and the master slide deck to learn more about their projects. Their advocacy briefs are also linked below.

Aishwarya Iyer

India

Project Output: An advocacy brief that explains the why and how of parenting support, provides promising examples from different country contexts, and recommends policy and investments choices to increase support for parents. View her brief and presentation.

Aishwarya is from India where she has seven years of experience promoting education and community development initiatives for children and families in low-income communities across the country. She is currently a Research Assistant at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, where she supports the Common Elements project, a global systematic review of parenting programs in early and middle childhood. Aishwarya holds a master’s degree in human development and education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from St. Xavier’s College in Mumbai. Her interest in ECD was first sparked by her experience teaching children in Grades 2 and 3 in an under-resourced, public school in Mumbai.

Karin Noskova

Slovakia

Project Output: A database of literature that presents an analysis of investments in young children made in one or more country contexts AND an accompanying advocacy brief that summarizes lessons learned from the available literature and draws recommendations for strengthening financing for young children at the country level. View her database, brief, and presentation.

Karin is a young professional committed to promoting innovative, inclusive education through private philanthropy in Slovakia. In her current role as Programme Manager at the Volkswagen Slovakia Foundation, she leads strategic partnerships with over a dozen NGOs, building an ecosystem of innovators in inclusive education. She champions data-driven approaches and fosters purposeful private philanthropy to address critical gaps in education systems. Karin holds a bachelor’s degree in education studies from University College London and a master’s degree in education, globalization, and international development at the University of Cambridge. Her passion for ECD began at 18 when she co-founded a youth organization supporting marginalized children.

Sadaf Qayyum

Pakistan

Project Output: An advocacy brief that includes key messages and specific recommendations that link early childhood to the climate agenda to inspire countries to become champions for young children by taking action in their national climate action policies, plans, and financing decisions. View her brief and presentation.

Sadaf is from Pakistan and currently serves as an Inclusion and Resource Mobilization Officer with the Global Advisory team at Street Child UK. In this role she provides technical and programmatic support to country teams on resource mobilization and inclusive programming, helping to ensure that children in low-resource settings and emergency contexts are safe in school and learning. Sadaf holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology and statistics from Forman Christian College in Pakistan. She also holds a master’s degree in education policy for global development from the University of Glasgow. She is eager to explore opportunities to better support young children, their families, and the programs that serve them to combat climate change impacts.

Wamweru Muthara

Kenya

Project Output: An advocacy brief that can be used by advocates in different countries in the global majority to support their national efforts to strengthen childcare systems, with key evidence of the benefits, policy recommendations, and potential financing mechanisms drawn from promising practices in countries. View her brief and presentation.

Wamweru is the Founding Director of Nawirisha, an organization dedicated to expanding access to quality childcare services in low-income, urban settings of Kenya. She previously worked in finance and development sectors holding various leadership and advisory roles, co-designing and implementing innovative projects for children, youth, and women. Wamweru is an alumna of the World Forum Foundation’s Global Leaders for Young Children Program and has worked with organizations like ActionAid International, UN Women’s Empower Women, and VSO International. She holds a master’s degree in education and development in early childhood from the University of Haifa in Israel, and a bachelor’s degree of Commerce in Finance from the University of Nairobi in Kenya.

Fourth Cohort

The fourth cohort disseminated their work in a webinar on April 9, 2025. View the recording and the master slide deck to learn more about their projects. Their detailed reports are also linked below.

Bashiru Turay

Sierra Leone / Germany

Project Output: An analysis of climate action plans of the 12 most populated cities for their consideration of young children. View his report and presentation.

Bashiru is the Technical Partner and Consultant in Research, Business Development, and Partnerships at the Youth Movement for Sustainable Development in Sierra Leone, with more than 5 years of combined experience in research and practice in the fields of intersectional climate change adaptation, disaster management, and youth and childhood development. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Environment and Development from Njala University in Sierra Leone, and a joint Master of Science degree in Geography of Environmental Risks and Human Security from the University of Bonn and the United Nations University in Germany. Bashiru has done interdisciplinary studies to advance his fields of interest. He aims to contribute to improving the wellbeing of children in vulnerable conditions.

Dulguun Batmunkh

Mongolia / USA

Project Output: An exploration of childcare systems in Mongolia and opportunities for impact investing. View her report and presentation.

Dulguun is an international development professional from Mongolia, currently serving as the Global Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) Coordinator at OneSky. In this role, she facilitates impact evaluations of early childhood development projects across Hong Kong, Vietnam, and Mongolia. Dulguun holds a Master of Arts degree in International Policy from Stanford University, where she was a Knight-Hennessy Scholar, and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Finance and Economics in Mongolia. Dulguun specializes in designing and implementing social impact frameworks that improve educational outcomes for underserved children and amplify the voices of women and youth in political decision-making.

Hernán Marisquirena

Uruguay / Netherlands

Project Output: A report detailing elements of climate services, showcasing examples of organizations in this field, and providing recommendations for integrating a focus on young children into their work. View his report, map of climate services, and presentation.

Hernan is from Uruguay and currently serves as the Programs Associate at the Education Outcomes Fund, a UNICEF-hosted fund that uses results-based finance to enhance educational outcomes. In this role, he works to improve early childhood development and school readiness for pre-primary children in Rwanda’s informal settings. Hernan holds a Master’s degree in International Development from Wageningen University in the Netherlands and a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations from Universidad de la República in Uruguay. He has experience in project management, in both private and public sectors. His work and academic experiences have deepened his interest in ECD.

Liezel Engelbrecht

South Africa

Project Output: A review of early childhood programs that integrate nutrition and psychosocial stimulation to determine common elements and success factors. View her report and data extraction table as well as her presentation.

Liezel currently works at the DG Murray Trust, a strategic investor and public innovator in South Africa. In this role, she engages with research, projects, and programs that aim to improve maternal and infant nutrition, reduce stunting, and support early childhood development. As a registered dietitian with a Master of Public Health degree from Stellenbosch University in South Africa, she works to address malnutrition and promote equitable food systems. Liezel is interested in shifting the dialogue surrounding health and nutrition from focused on individual choices to a whole of society approach. With a previous career in journalism, Liezel is interested to explore how strategic communication at different levels can help drive changes in public health.

Omkar Balel

India

Project Output: A review of seven Indian states most vulnerable to climate change to evaluate if their plans include considerations for young children, along with recommendations. View his report and presentation.

Omkar currently serves as Program Lead at the Centre for Aquatic Livelihood in India. He works in coastal regions to help community members enhance livelihood opportunities and food security in rural areas. He has expertise in water policy, climate change, and carbon-related interventions and four years of professional experience. Omkar holds Master of Science degree in Water Policy and Governance from Tata Institute of Social Sciences in Mumbai, and a Bachelor of Technology degree from the Institute of Chemical Technology in Mumbai. He is also a Youth Delegate from India with the International Union for Conservation of Nature and was recognized as a Changemaker of 2023 by the UNESCO-8one Foundation. Through this fellowship, he hopes to better understand and incorporate children’s voices in his climate change response efforts.

Rosa Taylor

California, USA

Project Output: An examination of how young children are impacted by climate mobility with recommendations for policymakers and practitioners. View her report and presentation.

Rosa is an international development professional currently working as a Grants Officer at the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation. Before joining the foundation, Rosa was a Program Manager at BRAC USA, where she supported the design, management, and evaluation of programs for children and youth in Asia and Africa, with a focus on early childhood development, education in emergencies, and education technology. Rosa earned a Bachelor’s in Political Science from Columbia University in New York and a Master’s in International Relations and International Economics from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies in Washington, DC. Rosa is passionate about creating a more inclusive, equitable world through education.

Ruoyu Li

China

Project Output: An analysis of climate action plans of the ten most populated countries for their consideration of young children. View her report and presentation.

Ruoyu most recently worked as a research fellow with UNICEF Cambodia. In this role, she conducted pioneering research to generate evidence on the pathways and impact of climate change on child migration and child rights. Previously, Ruoyu has interned with international organizations such as UNICEF Innocenti and Save the Children China and supported child-centered programs. She holds a Master of Science degree in International Social and Public Policy from London School of Economics and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from China. Ruoyu is currently pursuing her second Master’s degree in Public Policy at Fudan University in Shanghai, China. Ruoyu is passionate about the cross-cutting issues of ECD and climate change and interested in how data can be used to inform policies and practices in various contexts.

Suhany Zaimah

Bangladesh

Project Output: An analysis of the impact of informal work on parenting practices, including effective strategies for reaching parents within this sector. View her report and presentation.

Suhany currently works as the Early Childhood Education Program Manager for the Institute of Child & Human Development (ICHD) in Bangladesh. In this role, she supports the development of curricula for early childhood education and parenting programs for use throughout Bangladesh. Her previous role as the Advocacy & Communications Manager for the Play to Learn project with the Rohingya community deepened her understanding of working closely with parents and caregivers in crisis settings for children’s learning and wellbeing. Suhany holds a Master of Science degree in Early Childhood Development, and transitioned from a prior career focus on business management. Suhany is passionate about strengthening systems so that families, educators, and community members come together to create nurturing environments where all children can thrive.

Third Cohort

The third cohort disseminated their work in a webinar on May 16, 2024. Watch the recording and view the master slide deck to learn more about their projects.

Duong Vu

Vietnam

Project Output: A policy brief with recommendations for how the right to free early childhood education can be realized in Vietnam. View her presentation and report.

Duong is a Program Manager for FHI 360’s Alive & Thrive initiative and Chairwoman of the Scaling Up Nutrition Civil Society Alliance in Viet Nam. In this role, Duong represents the network in various government and partner engagements and advocates for breastfeeding-friendly health systems, universal health coverage, and regulations to limit marketing of unhealthy foods. Duong holds a Bachelor of International Economics degree and has received numerous awards and scholarships such as a Fulbright Scholarship and the Quang Ninh Province First Prize Innovation Award for Human Milk Banking. Through the fellowship experience, Duong aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of key issues in the field of early childhood development in the East Asia Pacific Region specifically.

Mubarik Abdul-Rahman

Ghana

Project Output: A repository of system thinking approaches, methodologies, and tools that may be used to achieve ECD outcomes at scale. View his presentation and report.

Mubarik is a Manager in charge of Governance and Stakeholder Coordination with Lively Minds in Ghana. His current role affords him the opportunity to work closely with high-profile decision-makers at key agencies under Ghana’s Ministry of Education where he provides technical support on ECD and fosters ECD policy formulation and implementation. He has served in other roles at Lively Minds as well, all aimed at bringing multiple stakeholders together and coordinating actions to scale up evidence-based, low-cost ECD interventions. Mubarik holds a Bachelor of Health Science Education degree and a Master of Public Health degree. He is a values-driven public health and development specialist with expertise in early childhood systems measurement and evaluation as well as child and maternal health. Through the fellowship, Mubarik aims to make connections that will enable him to effectively convince stakeholders in sub-saharan Africa to invest in the early years.

Noellie Amon-Kotey

Ghana

Project Output: A review of existing parenting programs in Africa to assess responsiveness to adolescent parents’ needs. View her presentation, report, and review matrix.

Noellie is a Project Coordinator for the For25 Initiative in Ghana. In this role she builds on her six years of experience in research on early childhood and family life at the Child and Family Life Center at Eastern Illinois University and The Child Study Center at the University of Ghana. Noellie uses her keen understanding of the needs and challenges facing young parents and their children to make a difference for young parents in rural areas.Noellie holds a Master of Science degree in Human Services Program Administration and a Bachelor of Science degree in Family and Consumer Sciences and Child Studies. She has received multiple awards and recognitions for her achievements, which focus on evidence-based adolescent parenting interventions. Noellie is passionate about creating positive change in the lives of children and families and is committed to advancing research and practice in this field through this fellowship.

Paul Otwate

Kenya

Project Output: A resource brief that reviews frameworks for providing universal childcare for children 0-3 years old. View his presentation and report.

Paul is an Education Research Officer with the African Population and Health Research Center in Kenya. In this role he oversees the organization’s Learning through Play project across three counties. He has over seven years of experience leading the design and delivery of early childhood development as well as middle and adolescent education projects focused on improving outcomes for all children. He has conducted research to better understand the patterns and partnerships that can increase access to nurturing care services for vulnerable families and communities. Paul holds a Master of Early Childhood Education degree. He firmly believes that a holistic, inclusive, enabling, and nurturing environment for all children and caregivers is a prerequisite for increasing human capital and would like to use this fellowship to influence governments to make deliberate investments in ECD.

Rahul Pethe

India

Project Output: A curated review of scaled and transition-to-scale early childhood parenting programs with recommendations for implementers. View his presentation and report.

Rahul is a Monitoring and Evaluation Officer for the Aarambh Early Childhood Development Program in India. In this role, he ensures the effective implementation of interventions aimed at promoting optimal child development, which is a crucial foundation for a child’s lifelong health and well-being. Prior to this, Rahul worked as a clinical pharmacist and public health intern. Rahul holds a Doctor of Pharmacy degree and a Master of Public Health degree with a specialization in social epidemiology. He is committed to promoting health equity and social justice, as he believes that every child deserves access to high-quality childhood programs, regardless of their background or circumstances. Rahul aims to gain connections and resources through the fellowship that will help him to work collaboratively with families, educators, and community stakeholders to create supportive and inclusive environments where all children can thrive.

SM Rashedujjaman

Bangladesh

Project Output: A report of lessons learned from reflective practitioners that explores the obstacles and opportunities for parenting support in humanitarian crisis settings, using the case study of the Rohingya Crisis in the Cox’s Bazar region of Bangladesh. View his presentation and report.

Rashed is the Technical Manager for ECD with the International Rescue Committee in Bangladesh. In this role, he is at the forefront of developing coordinated ECD models, conducting participatory action research, and providing technical support for proposal development. Previously he worked with Save the Children International in different positions all aimed at promoting mental health and psychological support for children and caregivers. Rashed holds a Master of Education degree in Psychology and Guidance and a Bachelor of Education degree in Science, Mathematics, and Technology Education. Rashed is a passionate advocate for supporting parents and caregivers, especially in crisis situations. With a specialized focus on psychological first aid and social-emotional learning, he is looking to enhance his ability to design, implement, and evaluate effective ECD interventions that are sensitive to the diverse needs and contexts of families through this fellowship.

Tanvi Sethi

Denmark

Project Output: A resource brief with comparative examples of global parenting initiatives with unique delivery methods in varying contexts. View her presentation and report.

Tanvi most recently worked as a Programme Specialist with The LEGO Foundation in Denmark. In this role, she led Learning Through Play initiatives by supervising programs, managing grants and partnerships, and leading global initiatives, including the Playful Schools Network and Conference. Her prior experience includes teaching, research, and project management with multilateral organizations, global think tanks, and grassroots organizations based in underserved communities. She interned with UNICEF and UNESCO where she focused on how to make early learning opportunities accessible to children in emergency settings and inclusive for those with learning differences. Prior to that, she was a Teaching Fellow and Content Advisor with Teach for India. Tanvi holds a Master of Science degree in Child Development and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and Sociology. Tanvi has personally seen the disparities between countries and contexts where early childhood support programs are resourced and where they are not. Through this fellowship, she is interested in connecting with partners to maximize the number of context-specific, evidence-based, tangible, low-cost, simple, accessible resources that can improve parents’ nurturing practices.

Second Cohort

Giang Le

Vietnam

Project Outputs: The broad aim of the project is to support service provision and capacity building the field of IDD among service providers, professionals and caregivers who support children with intellectual and developmental disability (IDD) in low-resourced settings. View her presentation and her report.

Giang Le is currently working as the Project Officer and Disability Technical Assistant at a local not-for-profit organization based in Ha Noi, Viet Nam. She received a BA in Psychology at Bryn Mawr College and a Master in Disability Policy and Practice at Flinders University of South Australia. She has worked as the research assistant in several projects to evaluate the effectiveness of early identification and intervention programs for children with intellectual and developmental disability (IDD) in Vietnam and supported the development of training programs to build capacity for health professionals in the field of IDD. She recently completed an independent research project in conceptualization and response to intellectual disability in Vietnam.

Jaqueline F. Natal

Brazil

Project Outputs: Understanding the effective expenditure per child in Early Childhood Education by Brazilian municipalities. View her presentation and her report.

Jaqueline is a researcher whose work focuses on understanding the impact of Early Childhood Education on learning and child development with a focus on quality ECE in Brazil. She has five years of experience in researching Early Childhood at the Laboratory of Studies and Research in Social Economics – University of São Paulo (LEPES-USP). The main activities that she held at the LEPES were focused on quantitative analysis, which involved the leadership of the Early Childhood agenda. In addition, she was the coordinator and manager of the development of the First Early Childhood Education Monitoring System in Brazil working with a multidisciplinary team such as policymakers, psychologists, economists, developers, and educators. Jaqueline is also the co-author of the study “Cost of Inaction of the Early Childhood Programs for Brazil” contracted by ECDAN and has presented her work to a variety of audiences including the National authorities and UNICEF. She holds an M. Sc. in Applied Economics and a Bachelor in Economic Sciences from the University of São Paulo.

Pema Thinley

Bhutan

Project Outputs: Status of Pre-Primary sub-sector in Bhutan: Using Pre-primary sub-sector analysis tool. The project aims to study the status, gaps, challenges, strengths and weaknesses of the pre-primary sub sector in Bhutan. View his presentation and his report.

Pema is currently serving as an Assistant Program Officer under ECCD and SEN Division, Ministry of Education. He has a Post Graduate Diploma in Public Administration and Bachelors in Environment and Climate Studies. As a program officer he has to ensure access and quality of ECCD programs in the country, monitor and evaluate programs, professionalize the early educators, supply teaching and learning materials and facilitate construction of ECCD Centres and encourage private participation in the ECCD program.

Aanchal Kapur

India

Project Outputs: Research and develop a narrative review on Understanding Systems Thinking from an Early Childhood Development Perspective. View her presentation and her report.

Aanchal is an ECDE professional and has engaged in projects focused on eliminating the disparity in accessing quality Early learning services and building Foundational learning and numeracy skills in children living in under-resourced communities of India and Africa. She holds a master of Early Childhood Care and Education from Ambedkar University, Delhi and a B.Sc. in Human Development and Childhood Studies from Delhi University. Aanchal has worked with Oxfam India’s inequality campaign team in documenting evidence of inequality in accessing quality early learning services by children living in remote regions of India. Currently, as an Early Childhood Education Associate at Pratham Education Foundation, she contributes to the organization’s work in the early years.

Sai Durgeshwari Rajandiran

Malaysia

Project Outputs: Research, design, and development of a knowledge platform on global parenting programs from infancy to adolescence. View her presentation and the knowledge hub.

Sai Durgeshwari is an early career professional with interests in child development, caregiver-child relationships, and education programme management. She holds a master’s degree in Human Development and Psychology from the Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE) and a bachelor’s degree in Linguistics and English from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Presently, Durgesh is based in Malaysia as an evaluation specialist for a global education consultancy, Cognition Learning Group. She previously trained as an academic researcher in laboratories at UCLA Linguistics and Harvard Psychology to study the acquisition and processing of languages in both children and adults.

Bethlehem Girma

Ethiopia

Project Outputs: Research and design of a knowledge repository on costing initiatives and tools for early childhood education. View her online repository, presentation and report.

Bethlehem is a researcher and Early Childhood Action Network 2022 Knowledge Fellow. Her project as a Knowledge Fellow focuses on conducting a Landscape Analysis of Early Childhood Costing Initiatives. Bethlehem areas of work also encompass climate-induced migration and social protection, microfinance, micro insurance, value chain finance, market systems development, and climate change education. She holds a master’s of Science in Development Practice from Trinity College Dublin and a second master’s in Accounting and Finance from Addis Ababa University. Bethlehem is currently a research assistant at Ryan Institute the University of Galway, and previously worked at UNICEF NYHQ (consultant on Climate Education), DAI (Access to Finance Intervention Manager), and Adama University (Lecturer).

First Cohort

Denise Bonsu

USA

Project Outputs: Global COVID-19 Knowledge Platform on Home Visiting Programmes

Denise is an international development practitioner with an interest in early childhood development, maternal and child health, and Francophone Africa. As a Senior Program Associate for Results for Development (R4D), Ms. Bonsu worked extensively with the Early Childhood Workforce Initiative (ECWI) to increase the global knowledge base on early childhood development and provide decision-makers with the tools and resources with which to support the early childhood workforce at scale. Under ECWI, Ms. Bonsu conducted rigorous qualitative research on Ecuador’s efforts to professionalize the early childhood workforce and co-authored a country brief that summarized the findings. She also co-developed a Home Visiting Workforce Needs Assessment Tool to enable policymakers to prioritize areas of focus for supporting community health workers in their countries, and piloted the tool in Siaya County, Kenya. Ms. Bonsu holds a master’s degree in international development and international economics from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) and a BA in economics and sociology from the College of William and Mary. She speaks English and French.

Keisha Constantino

Philippines

Project outputs: Early Childhood Care and Development Responsiveness Local Government Unit Assessment Tool (ERLAT)

Keisha is a faculty member at the Department of Family Life and Child Development, College of Home Economics, University of the Philippines Diliman where teaches undergraduate courses in Child Development from Prenatal Stage to Middle Childhood, Management of Programs for Preschool Children, and Home Management. She is also a candidate for Masters in Public Administration from the National College of Public Administration and Governance from the same University (to be conferred Jan 2022). Keisha studies the governance and administration of early childhood policies and programs, and is engaged in projects with children, families, practitioners and government working in the field of ECD.

Jorge Cuartas

Colombia

Project outputs: Global Review on Interventions to Reduce Corporal Punishment in Low-and-Middle-Income Countries – Policy Brief and Research Paper

Jorge is a Ph.D. candidate at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, a member of the SEED lab, graduate student affiliate at the Institute for Quantitative Social Science, Science and Innovation Fellow at the Center on the Developing Child (2020-2021), Knowledge Fellow at the Early Childhood Action Network (ECDAN; 2020-2021), member of the Scientific Advisory Committee for The Lancet Commission on Gender-Based Violence and Maltreatment of Young People, consultant at UNICEF Latin America & Caribbean, and co-director of Apapacho Colombia. Jorge’s research focuses on early childhood development and parenting in global contexts, the effects of corporal punishment and other forms of violence on children’s neural, cognitive, and socioemotional development, and the development and evaluation of violence prevention programs and policies. He holds an Ed.M in Human Development & Psychology from Harvard University, M.Sc. in Economics from Universidad de los Andes, and a B.Sc in Economics from Universidad Jorge Tadeo Lozano.

Carlota Nelson

Spain

Project outputs: Online Open Source Library of Early Learning Community Radio Programmes.

Carlota is an accomplished Spain-based filmmaker and director of the groundbreaking feature documentary, Brain Matters, a film that explores the development of the brain in early childhood. She is a member of The Academy of Cinematographic Arts and Sciences of Spain, and of the Steering Committee at Karanga – The Global Alliance for SEL and Life Skills –. Her documentary work has spanned global social and cultural topics, including art and apartheid in South Africa, censorship in Kuala Lumpur, and recidivism in America’s women’s prisons. Nelson’s first feature documentary, Anclados, premiered across Europe in 2010 to significant acclaim. The film tells the story of the crew of a Russian trawler quarantined in a Spanish port following the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Tashar Simasiku

Zambia

Project outputs: Multisectoral Approaches to Nurturing Care Programmes: A case study of opportunities and challenges in Zambia

Tashar holds a Master of Science Degree in Education from Texila American University Graduate School of Education, a Master of Science Degree in Project Management from the University of Bolton, and a BA in Education from the University of Zambia. She is a development practitioner with a passion for Early Childhood Development and Education. Ms. Simasiku has over 10 years of experience in the Management of Early childhood Education programs in Zambia and has actively participated in various national platforms on Early Childhood Education that are focused on increasing access to quality Early Learning and Primary Education services. As Education Advisor for VVOB Education for Development, Tashar’s role contributes to enhancing policy development and implementation through strengthening the capacity of the Ministry of Education in Zambia to deliver quality services equitable.