ECDAN

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Nurturing Care Framework for Early Childhood Development

Children’s development requires multiple inputs so their bodies can be nourished and grow, their minds can be stimulated and they can feel safe, secure and loved.  The evidence about the critical importance of a holistic approach to helping children survive, thrive and meet their developmental potential, promoted the World Health Organization, UNICEF, World Bank, Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health (PMNCH) and the Early Childhood Development Action Network (ECDAN) to join forces to develop a revised global framework for young children. 

The Nurturing Care Framework for Early Childhood Development (NCF) was the result of this partnership and extensive consultation with key stakeholders in 2017-2018.  The NCF was launched at the 71st World Health Assembly on 23 May 2018.

The Nurturing care framework for early childhood development: A framework for helping children SURVIVE and THRIVE to TRANSFORM health and human potential builds upon state-of-the art evidence of how child development unfolds and of the effective policies and interventions that can improve early childhood development.

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The Nurturing Care Framework outlines:

  • Why efforts to improve health and wellbeing must begin in the earliest years, from pregnancy to age 3;
  • The major threats to early childhood development;
  • How nurturing care protects young children from the worst effects of adversity and promotes physical, emotional and cognitive development;
  • What families and caregivers need to provide nurturing care for young children.
To reach their full potential, children need the five inter-related and indivisible components of nurturing care: good health, adequate nutrition, safety and security, responsive caregiving and opportunities for learning.

The Nurturing care framework for early childhood development: A framework for helping children SURVIVE and THRIVE to TRANS- FORM health and human potential builds upon state-of-the art evidence of how child development unfolds and of the effective policies and interventions that can improve early childhood de- velopment.