UNICEF develops Early Childhood Development (ECD) toolbox

UNICEF has developed the Early Childhood Development (ECD) Toolbox that is aimed at supporting local governments in their efforts to improve the coordination, efficiency and effectiveness of the local early childhood system in their cities/municipalities. 

With multiple services such as health, education and care, early intervention, social protection targeting young children and families, along with public services such as playgrounds, libraries, and other cultural services, the toolkit aims to ensure these systems coordinate with one another and work for the good of children and families. 

Through its structure and content, the Toolbox intends to contribute to the shared understanding of the important role that local governments can play in ensuring a strategic vision, a well-informed and highly coordinated strategy to address the needs that young children and families have and the challenges they encounter. 

The main purpose of the Toolbox is to strengthen local governments’ capacity to mobilize and convene local expertise and resources, and to take informed decisions for providing access to quality environments for all young children and their families. 

Structure and content of the Toolbox 

The Toolbox brings together and builds on knowledge from previous publications by various international organizations. The publications focus on supporting strategic and impactful work at the local and national levels which is aimed at better outcomes for young children and their families/caregivers. 

To increase their effectiveness, the content of the Toolbox is organized around four building blocks which serve specific purposes. 

Building Block 1: Guiding tools for strengthening local governments’ capacity and infrastructure for coordinated plans and measures regarding young children. 

Building Block 2: Guiding tools for improving access to and the quality of health/home visiting, parenting support, ECEC, social protection services for young children.

Building Block 3: Guiding tools for addressing issues related to vulnerable or groups at risk of exclusion (children in extreme poverty, children with disabilities, children on the move, children from ethnic minorities, refugee children, etc.). 

Building Block 4: Guiding tools for developing a comprehensive local early childhood strategy.

Learn more about the Toolbox, or access it, using this link.