The G20 Social Summit has delivered a clear evidence-based call to action: investing in early childhood development (ECD) is critical to breaking cycles of poverty and fostering sustainable growth. From November 14–16, 2024, Rio de Janeiro hosted the G20 Social Summit, uniting governments, international organizations, and civil society to address pressing global challenges. Among the 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 underscored the transformative power of ECD in fostering equitable growth, breaking cycles of poverty, and securing sustainable futures.
The Learning for Well-being Institute participated in these discussions, sharing insights from the Every Family, Every Child report, developed in collaboration with Theirworld. This report, a key component of Theirworld’s Act for Early Years campaign, highlights the critical need for increased investment in early years and offers actionable evidence for policymakers.
Commitments to early childhood development
The Maternal and Early Childhood Interventions Sprint resulted in bold commitments to support over 200 million women and children worldwide. Governments and organizations pledged transformative actions to expand maternal and early childhood programs, including:
- Brazil: Extending the Early Childhood Visitation Program to reach 300,000 children aged 0–6 and 25,000 pregnant women, addressing gaps in maternal and child health services.
- Palestine: Delivering emergency services to 155,000 pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers, alongside support for 10,000 children who have lost caregivers.
- Bangladesh: Launching nutrition-focused programs for 6 million pregnant women in underserved areas.
- Mozambique: Scaling its early childhood program from two provinces to nationwide by 2030, integrating ECD into primary healthcare systems.
These commitments demonstrate the growing global recognition of ECD as a cornerstone for poverty reduction and sustainable development. Collaborative efforts among governments, civil society, and philanthropic organizations will be essential to turn these pledges into tangible outcomes. A full list of the announcements can be found in the official release.
The evidence for action
Theirworld announced its commitment to advancing the Global Alliance’s objectives for early childhood development through the Act for Early Years campaign, implementing a wide range of activities, including strengthening the evidence base on ECD investments. Studies like the Every Family, Every Child report, which highlights the societal and economic benefits of investing in ECD:
- 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 across G20 countries to join the workforce within three years, advancing gender equity and economic growth.
- Reducing inequality: Stark disparities in ECD spending persist, with European children receiving 28 times more investment than African children, and 2.5 times more than children in other G20 countries.
These findings emphasize the urgent need for equitable and sustained ECD investments to break cycles of poverty and foster inclusive growth across and between countries. The full report is available here.
A unified call for action
Global leaders at the summit underscored the critical importance of collaborative efforts to address hunger, poverty, and inequality.
Wellington Dias, Brazil’s Minister of Social Development and Assistance, remarked:
“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 organizations.”
Victor Aguayo, UNICEF’s Global Director for Child Nutrition and Development, emphasized:
“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 these and other high-level speaker’s remarks, Dominic Richardson, Managing Director of the Learning for Well-being Institute, noted: “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: collaboration and advocacy
The commitments made during the G20 Social Summit exemplify the power of partnerships in tackling systemic challenges. By integrating civil society voices and fostering evidence-based policymaking, the summit reaffirmed the importance of equitable policies tailored to the needs of vulnerable populations.
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Photos: Sweta Shah
