Aisha Yousafzai
To ensure all children have a strong start in life, global organizations and governments have developed key frameworks and policies to guide the design, implementation, and scaling of Early Childhood Development (ECD) programs. These frameworks promote a comprehensive, multisectoral approach that recognizes the interconnected needs of young children across health, education, nutrition, protection, and caregiving.
The Nurturing Care Framework
One of the most influential global frameworks for ECD is the Nurturing Care Framework (NCF), launched in 2018 by WHO, UNICEF, and the World Bank Group. The NCF is grounded in the latest scientific evidence and promotes coordinated efforts across sectors to support children from pregnancy to age 3, especially in low-resource settings.
The framework highlights five essential components:
- Good Health – Access to prenatal care, skilled birth attendance, immunizations, and management of common childhood illnesses.
- Adequate Nutrition – Exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months, appropriate complementary feeding, and micronutrient supplementation.
- Responsive Caregiving – Emotionally supportive and consistent interactions between children and caregivers.
- Opportunities for Early Learning – Age-appropriate stimulation, play, and early education to promote brain development.
- Security and Safety – Protection from abuse, neglect, violence, and harmful environmental conditions.
These five components are not standalone; they are interdependent and must be addressed simultaneously and consistently to achieve optimal development outcomes.
The Role of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all United Nations Member States, includes multiple goals that directly or indirectly support ECD:
- SDG 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.
- SDG 4.2: Ensure all girls and boys have access to quality early childhood development, care, and pre-primary education.
- SDG 1 and 2: End poverty and hunger, essential for creating enabling environments for young children.
ECD is thus not only a health or education issue but also a development priority for achieving equity, human rights, and long-term prosperity.
National Policies and Adaptation
Countries across the world have started to adopt and localize global ECD frameworks within their national development strategies. Examples include:
- National ECD Policies and Action Plans
- Cross-sector coordination mechanisms
- Budget allocations for ECD services
- Integration of ECD goals into health, education, and social protection systems
These national efforts help to create coherent systems where services for young children and families are better coordinated, better funded, and more widely available.
However, implementation gaps often remain due to limited capacity, insufficient financing, or lack of political will. Global partners continue to support countries in strengthening policy environments through technical guidance, advocacy, and evidence-based planning.
Global frameworks like the Nurturing Care Framework and the Sustainable Development Goals provide a strategic vision for ECD. When countries align national policies with these global standards, they create the conditions for all children—not just the privileged few—to thrive. Policy leadership, coordinated planning, and committed investment are essential to transforming the future for children around the world.
Associate Professor of Global Health
Global Health and Population
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health