Theirworld releases new report revealing transformative impact of early years investment

Global children’s charity Theirworld has released a new report revealing the transformative impact of investment in the early years of a child’s life ahead of the G20 Summit in Rio later this month.  

Researchers for the global children’s charity found that just a modest increase in early years investment by G20 countries could lift 17 million children out of poverty and drive 70 million women into the workforce within just a few years. 

Currently more than half of the world’s children – about 350 million – have no access to early childhood education and care (ECEC), and 175 million are not enrolled in pre-primary education. 

In response to the report findings, Theirworld is urging the world’s richest countries to put children’s early years at the centre of global efforts to tackle inequality and global poverty.

Spending in three key areas – universal parental leave, child benefits, and early education – would have the most dramatic impact, the report notes, adding that an additional investment of 0.6 per cent of GDP on universal child benefits could have lifted 16.7 million children out of poverty within two years.  

“The report underscores the urgent need for world leaders to put early years at the heart of global efforts to tackle inequality and global poverty,” Theirworld President Justin van Fleet said. 

“As the world grapples with intersecting crises, from climate change to rising inequality, investing in the early years represents a proven strategy to build a brighter future for all. With millions of children’s futures hanging in the balance, we can’t afford to wait.”

In 2018, G20 countries pledged to increase spending on the world’s youngest children, but progress has stalled. Currently there is no plan in place to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals target of every child having access to quality early childhood development, care and education by 2030.  

European countries receive 28 times more early years investment than countries in the African Union and 2.5 times more than children in other G20 countries.

Eight countries – Botswana, Chad, Djibouti, the Gambia, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, Tunisia and Uganda – report investing nothing in early childhood development.

“Investing in our youngest children is a moral imperative; but that is reinforced by data showing that this is also a smart economic strategy that benefits everyone,” Theirworld Chair Sarah Brown said.

“By placing the burden of childcare so heavily on families, governments are ignoring overwhelming evidence that early years investment has a ripple effect across societies and economies.”

As part of its Act For Early Years campaign, Theirworld has mobilised more than 150 organisations, including the Lego Foundation and UNICEF, to sign a letter calling on the G20, led by Brazil’s President Lula da Silva, to address the lack of funding for early childhood care and education. 

It is calling for at least $1billion in new funding commitments to kickstart the action needed to ensure every child has access to the support needed to thrive in the first five years of their life. 

Read the report here. For more information about the work of Theirworld please see here.