Early Childhood Development Action Network

It began when UNICEF and the World Bank Group launched the Early Childhood Development Action Network (ECDAN) at the flagship World Bank Spring Meetings event, "Smart Beginnings for Economies on the Rise," in April 2016, marking a milestone moment for young children.

In June 2016, more than 80 key partners representing UN agencies (ILO, UNESCO, UNICEF, and WHO), the World Bank, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), foundations, private sector, ECD regional networks, academics, think tanks and related global initiatives met to discuss and advance  plans to establish ECDAN. They agreed that ECDAN will catalyze action at scale to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for young children.