“Because of the profound effect that Early Childhood Development (ECD) can have on social well-being and development, we have decided to put our children first.”
— President Cyril Ramaphosa, Bana Pele 2030 Early Childhood Development Roadmap Leadership Summit
At the recent Bana Pele 2030 Leadership Summit, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced a national commitment to investing in early childhood in South Africa, aiming to achieve universal access to quality early learning by 2030. His statement marked a bold step forward for the country’s youngest citizens—and underscored the growing influence of global research in shaping national strategies.
Why Investing in Early Childhood in South Africa Matters
Speaking at the summit, President Ramaphosa pointed to clear economic and social benefits of early investment:
- Better outcomes for children and society: Children who receive a strong start are more likely to succeed in school and the workforce, reducing long-term public costs related to healthcare, crime prevention, and welfare.
- Empowering women and boosting the economy: A research report, published during Brazil’s G20 Presidency and co-produced by our team with Theirworld, found that investing 2.1% of South Africa’s GDP in universal childcare could enable 10.5 million women to join the workforce over three years.
- A strategic national investment: Prioritising ECD is not only a moral choice—it is a pathway to sustainable, inclusive national development.
Global Evidence Behind the Commitment
President Ramaphosa’s statements draw directly from Every Family, Every Child, a flagship international report developed with Theirworld, and from its accompanying background paper, Laying the Foundations for Sustainable and Equitable Social Development.
This research highlights the global and regional disparities in ECD investment and the high cost of inaction:
- A child in Europe receives, on average, 28 times more public ECD investment than a child in Africa.
- Preschool-aged children in many low- and middle-income countries are excluded from social protection systems.
- Investment in children aged 0–5 remains disproportionately low, even though this period yields the highest return on public investment.
From Evidence to Action
The Bana Pele 2030 Summit brought together leaders from government, business, civil society, and education to co-create an actionable roadmap for universal ECD access across South Africa. By grounding its ECD strategy in global evidence and gender-inclusive economic analysis, South Africa is signalling its intention to lead with both conscience and strategy.
As global momentum grows, we are proud that research co-produced by our teams is helping shape national decisions. Investing in early childhood in South Africa is not only urgent—it is transformative.
