Groundbreaking study reveals key gaps and potential areas for collaboration in Early Childhood Development (ECD) across Asia

PRESS RELEASE: Singapore, 6 July 2023 (Thursday) – Asia Philanthropy Circle (APC) today released the results of its Regional Early Childhood Development (ECD) Landscape Study. Conducted by the Centre for Evidence and Implementation (CEI) and supported by 12 philanthropic organisations in the region, the study is the first of its kind and is the most comprehensive mapping to date of parenting and early childhood programmes across Asia, with particular focus on China, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Singapore. Key Findings The study finds that across all four countries, there has been a clear increase in government commitment to provide holistic support…

The LEGO Foundation Announces Awardees for Global Challenge

by Vanessa Goeh The LEGO Foundation, in collaboration with Lever for Change, recently announced its five winners for the Build a World of Play Challenge, an open call grant competition for DKK 900 million (USD 117 million) seeking bold solutions promoting the well-being of children, their caregivers, and their communities, using culturally relevant and sustainable approaches. The social challenge seeks to address the early childhood crises aggravated by the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as to create a global movement to prioritise early childhood development (ECD). Ten finalists were earlier chosen from a pool of 627 applicants from 86 countries. Their…

What We’re Reading: Re-envisioning Early Childhood Policy and Practice

The Harvard Center’ on the Developing Child‘s most recent report introduces “ECD 2.0″, which adds three new concepts to the present understanding of Early Childhood Development. BY VANESSA GOEH Many APC members are supporting Early Childhood Development (ECD) initiatives to improve outcomes in the region—such as the APC Regional ECD Research, which looks at different ECD policies and programmes across Indonesia, Philippines, and China, or the 1000 Days Fund, which looks at addressing stunting in Indonesia. Thus, it is necessary to keep abreast with the most recent developments in the ECD field. We recently came across the Harvard Center on the Developing’s…

Regional Early Childhood Research kicks off

The study will map the current ECD landscape in Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines, and China towards providing recommendations to improve outcomes in the region. BY THERESA CUA Early Childhood Development (ECD) is a challenge faced by many countries in Asia—with local priorities, challenges, and models varying across the region. Outcomes vary. APC is coordinating a Regional ECD Research, which recently kicked off in March. The research will map the current ECD landscape for children aged 0-6 in Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines, and China. In particular, the research will examine parenting and early learning programmes and policies, identify common measurement tools to…