Early childhood is defined as the period from birth to eight years old. UNESCO’s mission is to support early childhood policy development with the aim to build a solid foundation for a child’s lifelong learning. UNESCO advocates for Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programmes that attend to health, nutrition, security and learning and which provide for children’s holistic development. It also leads the international policy drive for an integrated early childhood care and education system that encompasses both the well-being and holistic development of the child.
UNESCO actively works with Member States in their efforts to develop and strengthen their national capacity to meet the first goal of the 2000 Dakar Framework for Action, which aims to expand and improve comprehensive early childhood care and education for all.
