Early Child Development - WHO

1 CONTACTS: Meena Cabral de Mello Child and Adolescent Health and Development World Health Organization Tel: +41 22 7913616 Email: Website: Lori Irwin Early Child Development Knowledge Network Human Early Learning Partnership (HELP) Email: Website: Commission on Social Determinants of Health World Health Organization 20, Avenue Appia CH-1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland Email: Website: Measuring Early Child Development in countries The conditions under which children are dying are the same conditions under which children are living. At present, there is no global comparable measure to Infant Mortality or Under five Mortality that can be used to assess how countries perform with respect to Early childhood Development . The network has begun a process of promulgating a method of assessing the state of Early childhood Development on a population basis. It is working with representative from different agencies to have a comparable approach to measuring Early Child Development throughout the world.

2 The Early Development Indicator (EDI), administered at school entry, has been validated as a direct measure of Early Child Development in different countries and an indirect measure of the environments in which children live. The network has developed partnerships with key country representatives to pilot the EDI. As part of this initiative, it is creating an international handbook for training country representatives interested in piloting the EDI. A critical part of assessing a society s success is its future promise of well being Early Child Development (0-8 years) is considered to be the most important phase to determine lifelong health, well-being, learning and behaviour. A comprehensive approach Early in life, which attends to the environment of a Child and provides high quality Child -care and family support can improve chances of success throughout life. Early Child Development KNOWLEDGE NETWORK ECD Knowledge Network WHO's Commission on Social Determinants of Health has established the Knowledge Network on Early Child Development to create a global focus on the Early years of life.

3 The network is made of scientists, policy makers, civil society organizations and Development agencies from across the world. It will identify innovative ways of addressing Early Child Development and inform the Commission of the approaches for fostering leadership, policy, action and advocacy needed to create positive change for children. Investing in the Early years of life ensures a better future Build global consensus on measuring Early Child Development to align the existing international agendas for the "rights of the Child ", " Child survival", "gender equality", "poverty reduction" and "access to education". The network aims to make Early Child Development a central principle in domestic and international Development in the 21st century. Promote exchange of knowledge and experiences between countries to address the physical, cognitive, language, social and emotional Development needs of children. Through knowledge gathering and analysis in different country contexts, the network is the space for learning and sharing experiences that can improve policy practice.

4 Educate and disseminate information gathered from country experiences through channels that are easily accessible and affordable. Recommend evidence-based policy interventions to address Early childhood Development in varying country contexts. Universally, there is an increased awareness of the Early years as a crucial period for promoting physical, mental, and psychological growth of children and preparing them for lives as capable and productive adults. The course of Development depends, critically, on the quality of stimulation, support and nurturance that the Child experiences in his or her family, neighbourhood, and care environments. Deficient or unsupportive environments can seriously and irreversibly affect children's Development . Evidence shows that Early and appropriate policy interventions that address the risk and protective factors for growth, cognitive and social-emotional Development of children can improve health, well-being, and competence in the long-term.

5 Despite the strength of the evidence, investments on Early Child Development have been slow, particularly, in the poorest countries. During the lifespan of the Commission, the network will intensify advocacy on Early Child Development and make recommendations to form part of the Commission's final report in 2008. As part of its focus, the network will: Why focus on Early Child Development ? Partnering with WHO on Early Child Development WHO will strengthen its advocacy and action on ECD policies and interventions within health programmes at all levels. It will promote the inclusion of Child Development outcomes on an equal basis to Child survival to ensure that children not only survive but also thrive. Recommendations from the network will build on existing strategies and serve to strengthen partnerships with other agencies so that the challenges to children's Development can be addressed. Child survival and Child Development are inseparable