CORE-GROUPCORE-GROUPEarly Childhood DevelopmentEarly Childhood Development

Emerging Concepts IIEmerging Concepts IIThe Place of the World Bank in The Place of the World Bank in

Support of ECDSupport of ECD

John H. BryantJohn H. BryantNairobi, KenyaNairobi, Kenya

Early Childhood DevelopmentEarly Childhood Development

Early Child Development – Early Child Development –

From Measurement to Action From Measurement to Action

A Priority for Growth and EquityA Priority for Growth and Equity

The World Bank, 2007The World Bank, 2007

Mary Eming Young & Linda M. RichardsonMary Eming Young & Linda M. Richardson Children and Youth UnitChildren and Youth Unit

Human Development NetworkHuman Development Network

Early Childhood DevelopmentEarly Childhood Development In our increasingly global world, the quality and In our increasingly global world, the quality and

competence of the future population hinges on the competence of the future population hinges on the development of children who are born today.development of children who are born today.

Experts have recently estimated that 219 million Experts have recently estimated that 219 million children below age 5 in developing countries are not children below age 5 in developing countries are not reaching their development potential due to adverse reaching their development potential due to adverse environments and experiences.environments and experiences.

Poverty, poor health and nutrition, as well as lack of Poverty, poor health and nutrition, as well as lack of stimulation create lifelong developmental barriers stimulation create lifelong developmental barriers that have devastating effects on a person’s learning, that have devastating effects on a person’s learning, productivity, and earning potential.productivity, and earning potential.

Early Childhood DevelopmentEarly Childhood Development

The estimate of 219 million is conservative, but The estimate of 219 million is conservative, but nevertheless is a strong basis for advocating global nevertheless is a strong basis for advocating global action to improve early child development at all action to improve early child development at all levels in all countries and, particularly, for poor and levels in all countries and, particularly, for poor and vulnerable children in developing countries. vulnerable children in developing countries.

The global imperativeThe global imperative for humanity’s 21 for humanity’s 21stst century, century, as fueled by technology, innovation, and access to as fueled by technology, innovation, and access to information, information, is human developmentis human development. The World Bank . The World Bank embraces this imperative, beginning with the embraces this imperative, beginning with the reduction of poverty and emphasis on equity.reduction of poverty and emphasis on equity.

Early Childhood DevelopmentEarly Childhood Development Poverty correlates strongly with short, medium, and Poverty correlates strongly with short, medium, and

long-term negative outcomes, such as high infant long-term negative outcomes, such as high infant mortality rates and malnutrition, low school mortality rates and malnutrition, low school enrollment and achievement, and high prevalence of enrollment and achievement, and high prevalence of infectious and chronic diseases in childhood and infectious and chronic diseases in childhood and beyond.beyond.

Children living in poverty have worse outcomes Children living in poverty have worse outcomes overall in health, nutrition, and education than do overall in health, nutrition, and education than do other children.other children.

Later in adulthood, the same individuals become Later in adulthood, the same individuals become victims of high unemployment, which increases their victims of high unemployment, which increases their vulnerability and exposure to undesirable social vulnerability and exposure to undesirable social outcomes.outcomes.

Early Childhood DevelopmentEarly Childhood Development Economists and business leaders around the world Economists and business leaders around the world

are recognizing that are recognizing that improving early child improving early child development is the foundation for enhancing human development is the foundation for enhancing human development.development.

ECD programs help to level the playing field for all ECD programs help to level the playing field for all children – before they begin school – and to close children – before they begin school – and to close the opportunity gap for disadvantaged children who the opportunity gap for disadvantaged children who live in poverty.live in poverty.

Sound economic data show that ECD programs are Sound economic data show that ECD programs are the most cost-effective way for reducing poverty and the most cost-effective way for reducing poverty and generating economic growth.generating economic growth.

Early Childhood DevelopmentEarly Childhood Development

Investing in ECD programs – which integrate health Investing in ECD programs – which integrate health and nutrition, care and nurturance, and stimulation – and nutrition, care and nurturance, and stimulation – is both productive and positive for children and is both productive and positive for children and society.society.

ECD programs enable children to grow healthy and ECD programs enable children to grow healthy and well, to reach the potential inherent in their birth, and well, to reach the potential inherent in their birth, and ultimately to contribute to society.ultimately to contribute to society.

Though the broad benefits of ECD programs may not Though the broad benefits of ECD programs may not accrue to society for 20 years, the time is not far off accrue to society for 20 years, the time is not far off and our action must be urgent.and our action must be urgent.

Early Childhood DevelopmentEarly Childhood Development

The World Bank leads the donor community in The World Bank leads the donor community in supporting early child development. With a portfolio supporting early child development. With a portfolio totaling US$1.7 billion in cumulative lending for ECD totaling US$1.7 billion in cumulative lending for ECD programs world wide, programs world wide, the Bank considers early child the Bank considers early child development a priority for human development.development a priority for human development.

Early Childhood DevelopmentEarly Childhood Development

The Bank will continue to build investment in ECD The Bank will continue to build investment in ECD programs, promote innovative initiatives, and programs, promote innovative initiatives, and encourage support for a mix of ECD options in both encourage support for a mix of ECD options in both funding and programming. funding and programming.

With the knowledge, evidence, and will that we have, With the knowledge, evidence, and will that we have, we can and must expand this investment in young we can and must expand this investment in young children.children.

Joy PhumaphiJoy PhumaphiVice PresidentVice President

Human Development NetworkHuman Development Network

The World BankThe World Bank

The ECD Agenda: Closing the GapThe ECD Agenda: Closing the GapMary Eming Young, MD, Dr.PHMary Eming Young, MD, Dr.PH

Global interdependency is posing formidable Global interdependency is posing formidable challenges for future generations.challenges for future generations.

The workplace of the 21The workplace of the 21stst century is becoming vastly century is becoming vastly different from that of even the 20different from that of even the 20thth century. century.

The new century is increasingly favoring a work The new century is increasingly favoring a work force consisting of individuals who are intellectually force consisting of individuals who are intellectually flexible, skilled in problem solving, emotionally flexible, skilled in problem solving, emotionally resilient, and well able to interact with others in resilient, and well able to interact with others in constantly changing social environments and highly constantly changing social environments and highly competitive economies.competitive economies.

The ECD Agenda: Closing the GapThe ECD Agenda: Closing the Gap

Maximizing human potential is more important and Maximizing human potential is more important and necessary than ever before.necessary than ever before.

To meet this overriding challenge, we must first To meet this overriding challenge, we must first understand and appreciate the developmental understand and appreciate the developmental processes which enable each child to attain his or processes which enable each child to attain his or her full potential – neurobiologically, physically, her full potential – neurobiologically, physically, psychologically, and emotionally.psychologically, and emotionally.

Children’s early experience has far-reaching and Children’s early experience has far-reaching and solidifying effects on the development of their brains solidifying effects on the development of their brains and behaviors.and behaviors.

The ECD Agenda: Closing the GapThe ECD Agenda: Closing the Gap

Diverse experiences affect the architecture (i.e. Diverse experiences affect the architecture (i.e. wiring) of the brain, the expression of genes, and the wiring) of the brain, the expression of genes, and the biochemistry and physiology of the human body – biochemistry and physiology of the human body – all of which mediate our cognitive, emotional, and all of which mediate our cognitive, emotional, and social behaviors.social behaviors.

The developmental influences are particularly The developmental influences are particularly powerful during sensitive periods of brain powerful during sensitive periods of brain maturation – that is during the very early years of maturation – that is during the very early years of childhood.childhood.

The ECD Agenda: Closing the GapThe ECD Agenda: Closing the Gap

Awareness of ECD and investments in ECD Awareness of ECD and investments in ECD programs and services have increased during the programs and services have increased during the past decade, yet much more attention is urgently past decade, yet much more attention is urgently needed. needed.

Researchers continue to define the attributes of Researchers continue to define the attributes of effective ECD programs, and educators and policy effective ECD programs, and educators and policy makers are confronting the challenges of scaling up makers are confronting the challenges of scaling up successful programs – regionally and nationally.successful programs – regionally and nationally.

The World Bank is contributing to these efforts. The World Bank is contributing to these efforts.

The target is clear: healthy development for every The target is clear: healthy development for every child worldwide.child worldwide.