September 30, 2025 – The Early Childhood Development Action Network (ECDAN) has published a new tool to help governments, civil society, communities, and other key stakeholders identify high-impact leverage points within the childcare ecosystem to inform more holistic advocacy, as well as design policy and program priorities. The Childcare Systems Map is a visual tool that illustrates the current dynamics that influence the provision of and access to quality childcare. It represents the interconnectedness and relationships between different components of the system, bridging gaps across sectors and movements. It is a global baseline to foster greater coherence and coordinated action toward more aligned, effective, and equitable childcare solutions. The map can be adapted to different contexts to respond to unique needs of young children and their families across the world.
To help in-country partners and governments make use of and adapt the map to their contexts, ECDAN’s Systems Thinking for ECD Collaborative is offering a course titled Systems Thinking for Childcare: A Short Course on Using and Adapting the Childcare Systems Map for its CARE Initiative partners, who will be focused on expanding access to high-quality, equitable, affordable, and inclusive childcare services by supporting and catalyzing local coordinated advocacy to influence the policies enacted and investments made at the national level. The course will support CARE partners to use the map to inform their strategy, identify advocacy targets, assess the key leverage points, and engage stakeholders across the ecosystem.
ECDAN is opening up the opportunity for other country consortia and governments to apply to join the course, and participate alongside the CARE Initiative implementing partners on this learning journey.
I. Course Description
This 4-month interactive course will introduce participants to the principles of systems thinking in early childhood development (ECD) and show how these concepts can be applied through the Childcare Systems Map. All participants, across countries, will join monthly, 2-hour virtual sessions to learn and share together. Each country consortium will include three or more partner organizations, including government representatives, and will work collaboratively between sessions to put the ideas into action. Participants will:
- Gain a clear understanding of what systems thinking is, why it matters in ECD, and how to apply it.
- Explore the Childcare Systems Map as a practical tool for visualizing the complexity of childcare systems.
- Adapt and localize the map to reflect their country’s unique context.
- Identify next steps and applications for advancing childcare policies and programs in their context.
II. Eligibility
Applications will only be accepted from consortia of three or more in-country organizations and government entities. Single organizations cannot apply to join the course. The consortium would ideally include representatives from the primary movements in childcare that this opportunity seeks to bridge: early childhood, gender equality/ women’s economic empowerment, and workers’ rights. The consent of all partners must be obtained before applying. Note that no funding or support will be provided to participants.
All applications must be submitted by November 14, 2025 at midnight EDT.
III. Course commitments
This is a closed course for a cohort of five selected countries. To ensure successful outcomes for all, it is important for all course participants commit to engaging fully in every session and completing all assignments for the entirety of the course. Commitments include:
- 2-hour virtual capacity-building sessions once a month
- 4 months total duration
- approximately 5 hours of reading and/or assignments to be done jointly with consortia members in between virtual sessions
IV. Selection Process
Applications will be reviewed by the Collaborative. Eligible countries will be invited for interviews. Selected country teams will be informed about their participation in the course. Applicants should not be discouraged if they are not selected for this initial course offering as there will be others in the future.