Early Childhood Development

The purpose of this brief is to: (1) demonstrate the societal risks that result when early childhood development (ECD) services are lacking and (2) show how ECD services contribute to sustaining peace through increasing social cohesion, equality and economic productivity.

This resource is part of a collection of resources compiled by UNICEF’s 2012-2016 Peacebuilding, Education and Advocacy Programme (PBEA), known as “Learning for Peace”, which was funded by the Government of the Netherlands.

This resource is part of a collection of resources compiled by UNICEF’s 2012-2016 Peacebuilding, Education and Advocacy Programme (PBEA), known as “Learning for Peace”, which was funded by the Government of the Netherlands.

This case study seeks evidence on the ground for ECD and other developmental pathways— particularly those that lead through social structures and culture—to see what is being accomplished in terms of peacebuilding in the actual ‘here and now’ at community level.

This research is concerned with a major issue; that of early childhood development and peacebuilding at a policy level in conflict-affected and post-conflict countries.

In the wake of conflict and violence, women in Côte d'Ivoire set up an early childhood development (ECD) center that became a platform for social interaction, dialogue, learning, and community activities that promote understanding, skills building, and peace in the community.

Evidence is emerging that family- and community-based ECD services are cost-effective and have the potential to contribute to social cohesion and peacebuilding in both the short and long term – from one generation to the next. Given this, we need to engage government officials and policy-makers around the globe, as partners to invest in ECD services, using a multi-sectorial approach.