22 September 2025

As world leaders, policymakers, civil society organizations, and activists convened in New York for the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 80), early childhood development (ECD) emerged as a prominent theme across multiple events held on the margins of the Assembly. The gatherings, events and roundtables are held by the Arab Network for Early Childhood (ANECD)’s prominent partners, including Theirworld, The Early Childhood Development Action Network (ECDAN), The Moving Minds Alliance (MMA) and The Early Childhood Peace Consortium (ECPC).

The events revolve around the urgency of prioritizing the world’s youngest children in global policy and financing debates, underscoring both the risks of neglect and the transformative power of early investment.

Act for Early Years Campaign: A Global Call to Action

At UNGA 80, Theirworld and its Act for Early Years global campaign, launched in 2023, urged world leaders to prioritize the youngest children, millions of whom still lack access to quality early childhood care and education.

Through its bold Minifesto and calls for the first-ever International Finance Summit for Early Childhood, the campaign highlighted the urgent need for political commitment and investment. Science and economics alike show that 90% of brain development occurs before age five, and early investment delivers the highest returns — breaking cycles of poverty, empowering families, and building resilient societies. At UNGA 80, Theirworld and partners called on governments, donors, and businesses to turn promises into action and place early childhood at the heart of the global agenda.

Stop War on Children NOW!

ECPC, in partnership with the Mission of Ireland to the UN, is highlighting the urgent need to protect children from the devastating impact of armed conflict through the event “Stop War on Children NOW!”.

Armed conflict continues to pose severe threats to children, with grave violations and sexual violence on the rise, leaving childhoods shattered, families broken, and futures compromised. Decades of research show that prolonged exposure to violence, combined with the absence of early care services, profoundly affects young children’s brain development, perpetuating cycles of violence and inequity across generations.

The event emphasizes that investment in young children, their families, and communities can foster resilience to toxic stress, break intergenerational cycles of poverty and violence, and build the foundations for more peaceful societies. It also showcases the ECPC’s Five-Year Strategic Plan, designed to scale up evidence-based, cost-efficient early childhood development solutions worldwide.

Strengthening Global Collaboration for ECD

ECDAN, in collaboration with MMA and hosted by the International Rescue Committee (IRC), is convening a Global Roundtable Series on Early Childhood Initiatives to bring together partners worldwide. The events highlight strategies, innovations, and financing approaches that improve the lives of young children and their families, emphasizing the importance of locally-driven solutions and coordinated global action.

By connecting partners from different regions, the roundtables foster collaboration, share critical insights, and build momentum for initiatives like the Act for Early Years campaign. Together, these efforts aim to ensure ECD remains a central priority on the global agenda, driving sustainable impact for the youngest and most vulnerable children.