The G20 Social Summit has issued a clear evidence-based call to action: investing in early childhood development (ECD) is essential to breaking cycles of poverty and fostering sustainable growth. Held from 14–16 November 2024 in Rio de Janeiro, the summit brought together governments, international organisations, and civil society to tackle some of the world’s most urgent challenges.

Among the summit’s key events was the Maternal and Early Childhood Interventions Sprint, part of the 2030 Sprints Announcements for the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty. This initiative reinforced the transformative potential of ECD in promoting equitable growth and securing a sustainable future for children and societies worldwide.

G20 Commitments to Investing in Early Childhood Development

The Learning for Well-being Institute participated in these high-level discussions, contributing insights from the Every Family, Every Child report, developed in partnership with Theirworld. This report, central to their Act for Early Years campaign, underscores the urgent need for increased investment in the early years and provides actionable guidance for policymakers.

The Maternal and Early Childhood Interventions Sprint led to bold, country-specific commitments to support over 200 million women and children globally. Highlights include:

• Brazil: Expanding the Early Childhood Visitation Program to reach 300,000 children aged 0–6 and 25,000 pregnant women, enhancing maternal and child health coverage.
• Palestine: Delivering emergency services to 155,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women, alongside support for 10,000 children who have lost caregivers.
• Bangladesh: Launching nutrition-focused programmes for 6 million pregnant women in underserved communities.
• Mozambique: Scaling its ECD programme from two provinces to national coverage by 2030, integrating early childhood services into primary healthcare.

These pledges reflect growing consensus that investing in early childhood development across G20 countries is essential to achieving long-term equity and poverty reduction.

The Case for Early Childhood Development in G20 Countries

Theirworld reinforced its commitment to the Global Alliance by launching new initiatives under the Act for Early Years campaign, including efforts to strengthen the global evidence base.

Key findings from the Every Family, Every Child report include:

• Combatting poverty: A 0.4% increase in GDP spending on universal childcare across G20 countries could lift 16.7 million children out of poverty within two years.
• Empowering women: The same investment could enable 70 million more women to join the workforce within three years—boosting economic growth and gender equity.
• Reducing inequality: Children in Europe receive, on average, 28 times more ECD investment than children in Africa, and 2.5 times more than children in other G20 nations.

These figures highlight the need for equitable and sustained investment in early childhood development as a core component of economic and social strategy.

A Unified Call to Invest in the Early Years

Global leaders echoed these priorities. Wellington Dias, Brazil’s Minister of Social Development and Assistance, stated:

“The Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty is demonstrating its capacity for early action and concrete results even before its formal launch, by bringing together political will from governments and consistent support from finance and knowledge organisations.”

Victor Aguayo, UNICEF’s Global Director for Child Nutrition and Development, added:

“By aligning political will, resources, and expertise, we ensure that children and women have access to the nutrition they need to thrive, creating a lasting impact on future generations.”

Reflecting on the summit, Dominic Richardson, Managing Director of the Learning for Well-being Institute, emphasised:

“Evidence-based research plays a vital role in shaping informed policies and ensuring timely public investments for all children. This call to action provides an important opportunity to align global ambitions for social and economic development with the needs of young children. By addressing the shortfall in early childhood development finance, we can lay the groundwork for sustainable growth and well-being for future generations.”

Looking Ahead: Sustaining Early Childhood Investment

The G20 Social Summit reaffirmed the value of partnerships between governments, civil society, and philanthropic organisations. By integrating the voices of diverse stakeholders and reinforcing the need for evidence-based policymaking, the summit offered a unified platform to advance early childhood development on a global scale.

As we move forward, investing in early childhood development in the G20 context must remain a priority—anchoring sustainable development in the rights, needs, and well-being of the youngest generation.