This policy brief underscores the urgency of investing in Early Childhood Development (ECD) as a cornerstone for inclusive economic growth. It particularly focuses on India's case, advocating for greater multisectoral engagement across nutrition, health, education, and child protection. It presents data demonstrating how investing during the first 1,000 days of a child’s life offers exceptional returns in productivity, health, and learning outcomes. The brief highlights the severe challenges posed by COVID-19 disruptions and underinvestment in ECD services and urges strategic realignments backed by strong monitoring frameworks.
The brief proposes actionable recommendations for the G20, including the creation of a Child Development Index, bolstering investments in nutrition, increasing breastfeeding support, leveraging sustainable crops like millets, and mobilising innovative financing mechanisms. The brief emphasizes India's policy efforts and budgetary trends, while also showcasing scalable models like Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) to funnel private and philanthropic resources for ECD outcomes.
Resource type:
Advocacy and policy