The Early Childhood Development Action Network (ECDAN) partners have co-developed and launched a Call for Coordinated Action to prioritize and invest in the needs of ALL young children and their parents and caregivers, especially the most vulnerable, during the COVID-19 pandemic response and recovery. 

Young children and families are experiencing unprecedented challenges and disruptions to their lives with children at great risk of not reaching their full potential. Now, more than ever, parents and caregivers have a pivotal role to play at the front lines of protecting their children from stress and promoting their development, health and well-being. This crisis has brought to the forefront the critical role of parenting, as well as the tremendous influence the home environment has on children’s lives.

ECDAN is concerned about the short term and long-term impacts of COVID-19 on children and their caregivers. Before COVID-19, at least 250 million young children were already at risk of not reaching their full potential. That number is likely to increase exponentially as more people are infected and as more families and communities deal with the socio-economic and the physical and mental health consequences of the crisis. The cost of inaction in the face of COVID-19 will have long term impacts on future human capital.

Join the call to action here.

View the full statement here.