BY BELINDA TANOTO, APC MEMBER
For the first time, early childhood development (ECD) has entered China’s national economic planning framework—opening the door for provinces to prioritise investment, scale services, and strengthen systems that support young children and their families.
For many of us working in this space, the milestone reflects years of collective effort. It also demonstrates the growing role that collaborative philanthropy can play in connecting field practice, research, and policy dialogue into a reinforcingpractice–research–advocacy loop. A notable example is the China Early Childhood Development (ECD) Collaborative Fund.
A collaborative response to a systemic challenge
The idea for the Collaborative first surfaced in 2022, when several philanthropic organisations began exploring how we might strengthen the ECD ecosystem together. Across China, promising programmes and growing research existed, yet many efforts remained fragmented.
The challenges facing young children, especially those in under-resourced communities, are systemic and complex. No single organisation has the reach or influence to address them alone. Recognising this, a group of funders embarked on a nine-month learning journey to better understand the landscape and explore whether a collaborative approach could accelerate progress.
That journey culminated launch of the China ECD Collaborative Fund in 2025, bringing together six donors—Gates Foundation, Institute of Philanthropy, Li Foundation, Tanoto Foundation, XinHe Foundation, and Yeh Family Philanthropy—alongside sector partners including the China Development Research Foundation and the China Foundation for Rural Development to support research, innovation, and policy engagement.
At its core, the Collaborative represents a shift in how philanthropy operates—from donation to collaboration, from isolated projects to ecosystem-building, and from standalone practice to policy influence.
At Tanoto Foundation, three considerations shaped our decision to participate. First, we saw the opportunity to deepen our impact by aligning with partners committed to evidence-based solutions and measurable outcomes. Second, we believe philanthropy can play a catalytic role, bringing together diverse actors and unlocking systems change beyond what any single organisation could achieve alone. Third, the Collaborative provides a platform for sustained engagement on policy and ecosystem development, linking field evidence, research, and collective advocacy.
Learning together as funders
The nine-month learning journey that preceded the Collaborative proved invaluable. It allowed funders to step back from individual programmes and analyse the broader ecosystem. One insight stood out clearly: while China has strong examples of innovative ECD programmes, scaling them requires stronger connections between practice and policy. Evidence from the field needs pathways into policymaking, and local innovations need mechanisms to translate into systems-level change.
The journey also highlighted the complementary strengths that different funders bring—from programme implementation and research to policy engagement. When these capabilities are aligned, collaboration moves beyond coordination towards true value creation, where the collective impact exceeds the sum of its parts.
Equally important was the process of building trust. Collaborative philanthropy is not simply about pooling resources. It requires open dialogue, shared decision-making, and a willingness to learn from one another. Over time, this helped fellow funders move beyond individual priorities and co-create a shared strategy for strengthening the ECD ecosystem.
Turning evidence into policy momentum
Since its launch, the Collaborative has supported initiatives aimed at strengthening the field—from policy research and local pilot programmes to sector knowledge exchange and public education on scientific parenting.
These efforts have helped build evidence, strengthen dialogue with policymakers, and amplify a collective voice in national discussions. Together with partners across government, academia, and civil society, they contributed to the inclusion of ECD in the 15th Five-Year Plan.
This milestone matters in several ways. ECD has moved from being primarily a social issue to a national development priority. The policy framework creates the opportunity to move from isolated pilot programmes towards more systematic institutional development. It also opens a critical window to translate years of advocacy into implementation that supports families and improves outcomes for young children.
Contributing from the field
Within the Collaborative, Tanoto Foundation contributes both strategic input and practical experience from the field.
Since 2019, our ECD programme in China has established 146 centres across eight provinces and cities, serving nearly 20,000 children and families as of the end of 2025. Through these initiatives, we have trained nearly 400 caregivers and delivered more than 640,000 sessions.
These programmes provide valuable insights into effective service models, caregiver support, and community engagement. Through the Collaborative, we are able to share these lessons more widely—supporting research, knowledge exchange, and capacity building across the sector.
The work ahead
While inclusion in the 15th Five-Year Plan represents an important turning point, policy recognition is only the beginning. Turning ambition into real improvements for children will require sustained collaboration across government, philanthropy, academia, and community organisations.
In the coming years, priorities will include supporting local policy implementation, strengthening the ECD workforce, expanding services in underserved areas, and building systems to monitor outcomes and quality.
For the China ECD Collaborative Fund, this next phase will continue to rely on partnership. By aligning evidence, field experience, and policy engagement, collaborative philanthropy can help translate national priorities into real progress for children and families.
After all, giving every child the best start in life rarely happens alone—it happens when we move forward together.
Belinda Tanoto is a Board Trustee at the Tanoto Foundation, leading its strategic initiatives in education, healthcare, and leadership development across Asia and beyond. She is passionate about human capital development and long-term, evidence-based impact.