Early Childhood Development Action Network - ECDAN

06/05/2026

Today is World Environment Day, and as we celebrate Parenting Month, it's a timely reminder that caring for children and caring for our planet go hand in hand.

Parents and caregivers are often children's first teachers helping them develop values, habits, and a sense of responsibility toward the world around them. Whether it's spending time outdoors, planting a tree, reducing waste, or simply encouraging curiosity about nature, everyday interactions can help children build a lifelong connection with the environment.

The future children inherit depends on the actions we take today.

Looking for ways to start the conversation? Explore UNICEF 's resource on talking with children about climate change: https://www.unicef.org/parenting/talking-your-child-about-climate-change

Ways to engage children on the issue with hope and positivity

06/05/2026

Youth Champions are creating a Youth Vision Statement that tells the story of what's needed for the world's youngest children. Are you 18-30 years old? Take their survey and share what the best start in life should look like for all in your community: theirworld.tfaforms.net/5116682

06/04/2026

June is Parenting Month.

Parents and caregivers play a critical role in shaping children's health, learning, wellbeing, and development from the very beginning.

This month, we celebrate the parents, caregivers, grandparents, and communities who nurture, guide, and support young children every day.

At ECDAN, we are proud to be part of the Global Initiative to Support Parents (GISP), a multi-stakeholder platform working to strengthen parenting support by accelerating investment, innovation, and the scale-up of effective parenting programs worldwide. GISP is coordinated by UNICEF, World Health Organization (WHO) Early Childhood Development Action Network - ECDAN Parenting for Lifelong Health and the International Rescue Committee.

Together, let's continue championing the support parents and caregivers need to help children thrive.

Learn more about GISP here: https://support-parents.org/

GISP aims to increase access to parenting and caregiver support so that every child can receive the support they need across the life course.

05/29/2026

For most families around the world, primary health care is the first point of contact during the critical first 1,000 days of life. Yet its potential to support nurturing care, early learning, and responsive caregiving often remains underutilized.

Join Results for Development World Health Organization (WHO) UNICEF , and Early Childhood Development Action Network for a webinar exploring how primary health care systems can strengthen child development outcomes in low- and middle-income countries.

📅 Wednesday, June 17, 2026
⏰ 8:00–9:30 EDT | 12:00–13:30 GMT | 15:00–16:30 EAT | 17:30–19:00 IST
💻 Online | English with Portuguese interpretation

Whether you are a policymaker, program designer, or frontline practitioner, this conversation will offer practical tools, global perspectives, and actionable insights to help strengthen early childhood development through PHC systems.

🔗 Register here: (https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_fJEAfmebTzWEgCST-axCxQ?utm_source=chatgpt.com #/registration)

For most families around the world, primary health care (PHC) is the first point of contact during the critical first 1,000 days of life. PHC is a powerful—but often underutilized—platform for nurturing the interactions between caregivers and young children that lay the foundation for healthy gr...

05/28/2026

Early Childhood Development Action Network (ECDAN) has released its latest quarterly newsletter!

This issue includes key developments and events, network and country updates, partner resources, blogs and media, upcoming opportunities, and more from across the ECD community.

Subscribe to ECDAN’s mailing list to receive future editions straight to your inbox. https://lnkd.in/ddQWiRet

05/28/2026

We’re honored to participate in the 37th Annual Boston International Trauma Conference (May 27–30, 2026), hosted by Trauma Research Foundation.

This global gathering brings together leading clinicians, researchers, and practitioners to explore psychological trauma, neuroscience, embodiment, and the restoration of the self—through both scientific insight and experiential learning.

Early Childhood Development Action Network - ECDAN will be part of a session that asks a critical question:

👉 Beyond knowing what early trauma does to a child’s brain and body—what is the world actually doing about it, and where is the funding going?

With nearly 450 million children living in conflict zones and millions more affected by climate crisis, displacement, and disrupted caregiving, this session will offer clinicians a rare global perspective on:

• the realities facing young children
• emerging intervention models
• the current funding landscape and its gaps

🎤Join Jane West ED and Founder, Two Lilies Fund, Elizabeth Lule, and Shekufeh Z. for a grounded, interactive conversation connecting clinical insight with global action.

🔗 Learn more:

Join global experts at the 37th Boston International Trauma Conference 2026 with Bessel van der Kolk to explore trauma and healing.

05/26/2026

Care systems are essential to healthy societies, economies, and gender equality — yet they remain underfunded and unevenly accessible in many countries.

A new guide from UN Women provides a practical framework to help policymakers assess gaps in care services, estimate the costs of closing them, and better understand the social and economic returns of investing in care systems.

From early childhood care and education to healthcare and long-term care, the publication offers actionable tools to support evidence-based policymaking and stronger public investment in the care economy.

Read the guide here: https://www.unwomen.org/en/digital-library/publications/2026/04/investing-in-the-care-economy-a-step-by-step-guide-for-measuring-gaps-costs-and-returns-on-investing-in-care-services-sectors

05/14/2026

How can we ensure young children in displacement settings have equitable and inclusive access to quality early childhood care and education (ECCE)?

Join UNESCO and the Francophone Commission of the World Organization for Early Childhood Education (OMEP) for an upcoming webinar exploring policies, approaches, and promising practices that support children and families affected by displacement.
📅 May 20, 2026
⏰ 14:00–15:30 CEST
💻 Online

The session aims to strengthen the capacity of civil society actors working to advance inclusive and quality ECCE in displacement contexts.

Register here: https://unesco-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_cRTTw7m6TvuFj8F9HH5Rvw #/registration

Zoom unifies cloud video conferencing, simple online meetings, and cross platform group chat into one easy-to-use platform. Our solution offers the best video, audio, and screen-sharing experience across Zoom Rooms, Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and H.323/SIP room systems.

05/14/2026

The Partnership for a Lead-Free Future is launching the Global Framework to End Childhood Lead Poisoning. The framework is designed to align existing efforts, clarify roles and expectations, and create a common reference point for engagement, investment and accountability.

At the core of the Framework is a set of global indicators on accountability and impact. The indicators are intentionally practical, designed to provide indicative guideposts for progress, support alignment, learning and course correction.

05/13/2026

As climate shocks intensify, who carries the burden when care systems fail?

In a new The Brookings Institution commentary, Kendall Trelegan, Laura Martínez Rodríguez, and Caren Grown highlight a major gap in climate adaptation planning: care services infrastructure including childcare, health systems, long-term care, and support for caregivers remains largely invisible in National Adaptation Plans and Nationally Determined Contributions.

The analysis argues that care must be treated as core adaptation infrastructure, essential for building resilience before, during, and after climate crises.

An important read for those working across climate, health, social protection, and early childhood development.

Read more: https://www.brookings.edu/articles/care-services-climate-adaptation-naps-ndcs/

Kendall Trelegan, Laura Martinez, and Caren Grown review 97 national plans to shows how to make care visible in climate resilience.