Pia Rebello Britto. Ph.D. 66 th OMEP World Assembly & International Conference Cork, Ireland July 4 th, 2014 Early Childhood Development: The Indispensable Foundation for Social, Economic and Sustainable Development

Overview 1.Association between Early Childhood Development and Sustainable Development: a.Brain Development – Individual and society b.Peace Building and Conflict c.ECD and Environmental Sustainability 2.Global Policy - Post-2015 Discussions, where we are: a.Millennium Development Goals b.4 work-streams Post 2015 process c.Advocacy Efforts and Results 3. How Can We Achieve our Goal? a.ECD goal – targets & indicators b.Lobby with Heads of State

Part 1: Association between Early Childhood Development and Sustainable Development

Early brain development & function is the foundation for life long learning, behavior and capabilities

Promoting Peace and Security Creating a global movement for peace that draws on the transformative power of early childhood development

ECD and Environmental Sustainability Biophilia: the love for nature is developed and sustained in early childhood Early learning pedagogies build an appreciation for the environment that is life long

Part 2: Global Policy: Post-2015 Where we are

Unfinished Business of MDGs: Achievements Half a billion fewer people in extreme poverty Three million children’s lives saved Four out of five children get vaccinated Huge improvements in reduction of maternal mortality 590 million children attend primary school United Nations (2013). Report of the High-Level Panel of Eminent Persons on the Post-2015 Development Agenda.

Achieving MDGs with Equity: Role of ECD Decline in survival rates masks the uneven progress leaving behind the marginalized –Through ECD Parenting programs improved outcomes are noted for child health, nutrition, learning and development, in marginalized and disadvantaged communities 58 million out-of-school children are the hardest to reach –ECD programs benefit those who are the hardest to reach and children’s learning outcomes noted in improved academic achievement and lowered drop out rates

Framework for Post-2015 UN System Task Team on the Post-2015 UN Development Agenda (2012) Realizing the World We Want for All. Report to the Secretary-General

Formal Inception of the Process UN Secretary General High-level Panel of 27 Eminent Persons –Co-chairs: His Excellency President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (Indonesia) Her Excellency President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (Liberia) His Excellency Prime Minister David Cameron (United Kingdom) UN System Task Team led jointly by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), to lead system-wide preparations for the post-2015 UN development agenda with support from all UN agencies and in consultation with relevant stakeholders. Country Consultation Teams

Post Work Streams

Where is ECD? 1 st Work Stream Empower Girls and Women to Achieve Gender Equality (reduction of gender based violence) Provide Quality Education and Life Long Learning(increase in % of children with access to pre-primary education) Ensure Healthy Lives (reduction in mortality and increase in immunization) Ensure food security and good nutrition (reduction in stunting, wasting and anemia by age 5 years) Ensure good governance and effective institutions (birth registration) Ensure Stable and Peaceful societies (reduction in violence against children) The age period is addressed – but do these goals and targets address “development? High Level Panel Report (May, 2013) Goals & Targets

Where is ECD? 3 rd Work Stream Ensure effective learning for all children and youth for life and livelihood –All children under the age of 5 reach their developmental potential through access to quality early childhood development programs and policies –Sample indicators: Suffer pre-term birth and low birth-weight Stunted growth; Receiving nutrition interventions Living in households above poverty Rate of developmental delays Access to 1 year quality pre-primary Public spending Basic competencies by age 8 Sustainable Development Solutions Network (Sept, 2013) The Future of Our Children: Lifelong, Multi-Generational Learning for Sustainable Development Chavan, Yoshikawa, & Bahadur, 2013

Where is ECD? 4 th Work Stream July 2014 zero draft, ECD is included under the proposed goal # 4 on equitable and inclusive quality education ECD goal # 4.1: “ By 2030 provide all children access to quality early childhood care and pre-primary education ”

Post Work Streams

How did we get this result? Position Papers Consultative Group on Early Childhood Care and Development –A Transformative Solution: Reducing Poverty and Inequality through a post-2015 Early Childhood Development Goal Institute of Medicine (Aber, Klaus & Lombardi, 2013) –Reduce by half the number of children who fail to reach their developmental potential University of Northampton Early Years Summit (Ulkuer, 2013) –ECSD Goal: All young children develop their full potential - to become physically healthy, mentally alert, socially competent, emotionally sound and able to learn

How did we get this result? Partnerships & Champions National Consultation on ECD on the post-2015 Agenda (January, 2013) Champion: Mayor Topas, Istanbul (Eminent Person, HLP) “Child Development: Is the Future We Want for All Children” Petition to Ban Ki Moon; Meeting with Amina Mohammed, Special Advisor to the SG on post-2015 (June 2014) Champion: RT Hon. Dame Tessa Jowell “Make ECD Central to the Post-2015 Development Framework”

How did we get this result? Unrelenting Advocacy Side Event at the 12th Session of the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals, New York, June 16, 2014 Early Childhood Development: The Foundation for Sustainable Human Development for 2015 and Beyond

Where is ECD? There have been several efforts We have a few entry points However we have to ratchet up the efforts if we are serious about getting ECD into the post-2015 framework In Summary

PART 3: HOW CAN WE ACHIEVE OUR GOAL?

Proposed ECD Goal (i.e., All children, from conception by 8 years of age will reach their developmental potential) This statement presents the results of wide-spread global consultations and proposals over the past 18 months, with Government Agencies, International Development Agencies, International Non-Governmental Organizations, National and Local Non-Governmental Organizations, Bi-Lateral Aid Organizations, Academia, and Individual Ensure all Girls and Boys Get the Best Start in Life

Target 1: Ensure that all children are healthy, socially and emotionally competent, resilient, respectful of diversity and learning successfully Proposed Indicators: Proportion of children achieving developmental potential beginning from birth (e.g. EDCI, UNICEF) Decrease % of children affected by stunting at age 2 (MICS) Increase child physical and mental health status. Decrease child morbidity (diarrhea, pneumonia, etc.) Pre-primary and early grade competencies (learning metrics) Children’s respect for difference and diversity

Measuring ECD through MICS: Early Childhood Development Index

ECD Index and Human Development Index Correlation between ECD index and Human Development Index. Note: ECDI and HDI are highly correlated. 0.1 point gain in HDI is associated to point gain in ECDI. A high correlations between ECDI and HDI indicating: ECD is the foundation of Human Development and the higher the Human development Index (HDI) for a country, the higher the chances for a young child to be on track in his/her development

Target 2: Proportion of children experiencing positive, responsive, sensitive and nurturing child-rearing practices in safe and peaceful environments Proposed Indicators: Proportion of children living in physically safe environment Proportion of parental/adult involvement in early learning at home Proportion of children experiencing harsh discipline and other forms of violence and abuse Proportion of children left home alone without supervision Proportion of mothers experiencing depression and domestic violence

Measuring ECD through MICS: Indicator on Adult Support for Learning Adult support for learning aggregated by type of adult.

Measuring ECD through MICS: Indicator on Availability of Children’s Books at home Availability of children’s books aggregated by wealth *Analysis of significance included 16 countries, all of which showed a statistically significant difference at the 1 per cent level (p≤0.01). *Global Average data is currently available from countries only as of October 2013.

Target 3: Ensure equitable access to quality, inclusive, and sustainable early childhood programmes and services Proposed Indicators: Implementation of family support and child protection policies through national budgets and established governance of coordination especially for at-risk children and families. Increase total budget allocation for ECD programmes across different sectors as a percentage of GDP. Enrollment of children in under 3 years in integrated ECD programmes, in 2 years of pre-school education, and early grade primary programmes Proportion children with disabilities enrolled in inclusive and early childhood intervention programmes Increase by X% number of at-risk children, and primary caregivers who receive psycho-social support, especially in conflicts and emergencies Increase in child care programmes for working women

Measuring ECD through MICS: Indicator on Attendance to Early Childhood Education Attendance to early childhood education aggregated by wealth *Analysis of significance included 16 countries, 15 of which showed a statistically significant difference at the 1 per cent level (p≤.01). In Swaziland no statistically significant difference was found. *Global Average data is currently available from countries only as of October 2013.

What Advocacy Action is required? We need to speak with 1 Voice: United Community Advocate with our governments to ensure that they will not accept a post-2015 framework that does not include early development

Call to Action: Time to Act is Now Key Ask: Will you champion ECD to become a central piece of the post development framework? How: Advocate with your Head of State to include ECD in their “key asks” for post-2015 Each one of us has to pledge on the concrete action we will take to mobilize our national government to include ECD until we achieve our goal

For more information, please contact Dr Pia Rebello Britto Title: Chief and Senior Adviser, ECD unit, NYHQ United Nations Children’s Fund 3 United Nations Plaza New York, NY 10017, USA Tel: