Jack Shonkoff, Linda Richter and other prominent academics have published an article, “An Integrated Scientific Framework for Child Survival and Early Childhood Development” in the Paediatrics Journal. The article confirms the need for an integrated approach to ECD and provides a scientific basis for encouraging policy-makers and programme developers to work together. The article produces evidence showing that greater gains come from investments in multi-sectoral collaborative ECD initiatives than in stand-alone interventions in areas like health, nutrition and social security. According to the authors, there are better returns on social investments when children are able to access many services at the same time rather than separately and at different periods in their lives.

The current NIP (National Integrated Plan) for ECD is under review and has struggled to achieve service –integration on a large scale, so the article is well-timed. The NIP needs to be revisited and made more effective in realising integrated ECD services and support.

Click here to view the abstract of the article by Shonkoff, Richter and others.