“Act for Early Years” Advances Global Momentum

10 November 2025

The Act for Early Years campaign reported significant progress during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) week, moving forward on the shared journey toward the first-ever International Finance Summit for Early Childhood planned for 2027.

Global Call to Invest in the Early Years

At the flagship UNGA event, “Unlocking the Future: A Global Call to Invest in the Early Years”, political leaders and partner organizations came together in a powerful display of unity and commitment to financing early childhood development. Co-organized with UNICEF, the event reaffirmed the growing international consensus that large-scale, sustainable financing for early childhood is both achievable and essential.

Support came from a range of political champions — including the UAE, South Africa, Sierra Leone, Ukraine, Brazil, and Oman — highlighting strong global backing for the early years agenda.

Key Resources and Initiatives

During UN Week, several important resources were released, including The Case for the Summit, a foundational publication co-developed with campaign members. The Smart Buys for Early Childhood Development (ECD) initiative, led by Elizabeth King and launched earlier this year at the World Bank Spring Meetings, also continues to identify cost-effective, evidence-based investments for young children.

Additional recent publications include:

Next Steps and Global Engagement

As the campaign enters its next phase, partners are preparing for a Q4 Strategy Call to align on the shared roadmap toward 2027. Planning is also underway with ECDAN, Brookings, and the Roger Federer Foundation for a G20 Social Summit side event in South Africa in collaboration with the Children20 Engagement Group.

To reinforce shared ownership, Act for Early Years has launched a dedicated website and social media presence, independent from Theirworld branding.