Investing in Young Children

Sophie Naudeau

Description

The World Bank created this Early Child Development (ECD) Guide in response to a growing demand from Task Team Leaders (TTLs) for advice and support to facilitate the policy dialogue on the topic of ECD and to help policy makers make and implement relevant choices on how to best invest in ECD in the context of their country's economy and national priorities. This Guide fills a gap in the literature by (i) distilling existing information in a user-friendly format, (ii) providing practical information on topics that have recently become particularly relevant in ECD (e.g., measuring child development outcomes through the identification and adaptation of relevant instruments, conditional cash transfers for families with young children, etc.), and (iii) assessing the quality of the latest evidence on each topic and identifying the knowledge gaps/remaining questions for which additional experimentation and evaluation are required.
This Guide is designed as a series of short notes (approximately 6-8 pages each), clustered into thematic sections: (i) Initiating the policy dialogue: Why invest in ECD? (3 notes); (ii) Assessing needs, measuring outcomes, and establishing policy frameworks (2 notes); (iii) "Strategic entry points" for ECD investments (4 notes); and (iv) Costing and financing (2 notes).
The notes are summarize the main debates in the field. Each note is designed to be read independently, so information is sometimes repeated or cross-referenced across notes.

Sujets

• Éducation
• Health

Informations

• Publié par: world-bank-publications
• Publié le: 08 novembre 2010
• Nombre de lectures: 35
• EAN13: 9780821385289
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

DIRECTIONS IN DEVELOPMENT
Human Development
Investing in Young Children
An Early Childhood Development Guide for
Policy Dialogue and Project Preparation
Sophie Naudeau
Naoko Kataoka
Alexandria Valerio
Michelle J. Neuman
Leslie Kennedy ElderInvesting in Young ChildrenInvesting in Young Children
An Early Childhood Development Guide for
Policy Dialogue and Project Preparation
Sophie Naudeau
Naoko Kataoka
Alexandria Valerio
Michelle J. Neuman
Leslie Kennedy Elder© 2011 The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development / The World Bank
1818 H Street NW
Washington DC 20433
Telephone: [phone]
Internet: www.worldbank.org
All rights reserved
1 2 3 4 13 12 11 10
This volume is a product of the staff of the International Bank for Reconstruction and
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ISBN: 978-0-8213-8526-5
eISBN: 978-0-8213-8528-9
DOI: 10.1596/978-0-8213-8526-5
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Investing in young children : an early childhood development guide for policy dialogue and
project preparation / Sophie Naudeau ... [et al.].
p. cm. — (Directions in development)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-0-8213-8526-5 (alk. paper) — ISBN 978-0-8213-8528-9
1. Child development—Developing countries. 2. Early childhood education—Developing
countries. 3. Child welfare—Developing countries. I. Naudeau, Sophie. II. World Bank.
HQ792.2I58 2011
305.23109172'4—dc22
2010036025
Cover photograph: Edwin Huffman/The World Bank
Cover design: Naylor DesignContents
Foreword xiii
Acknowledgments xv
Abbreviations xvii
Overview 1
Objective
Methodology for Selecting the Evidence 1
Summary of Contents 2
Note 4
Reference 4
Introduction 5
Definition
Background and Rationale 5
Conceptual Framework 6
Notes 10
References 10
vvi Contents
Section 1 Initiating the Policy Dialogue on
Investing in ECD 13
Note 1.1 Why Invest in ECD? The Economic Argument
(for Policy Dialogue with Ministers of Finance,
Planning, and Social Affairs) 15
Failure to Invest in ECD Is Costly and Difficult
to Compensate for Later in Life 15
There Is Strong Evidence That ECD Interventions
Yield Significant Benefits in the Short and
Long Term 17
ECD Investments Can Also Have a Positive
Impact on Older Girls and Women 20
Notes 21
Key Readings 21
References 21
Note 1.2 Why Invest in ECD? The Survival and Health
Arguments (for Policy Dialogue with Ministers
of Health)25
Despite Recent Progress, Many Poor Children
Still Die of Preventable Causes 25
For Those Who Survive, Poor Health and
Inadequate Nutrition and Stimulation in
Early Childhood Often Lead to Long-Term
Health and Development Issues That Are Costly
for Societies 27
There Is Strong Evidence That ECD Interventions
Focusing on Health, Nutrition, and Early
Stimulation (Rather Than on Health and Nutrition
Alone) Yield the Greatest Benefits in Terms
of Children’s Health and Overall Development 30
Notes 32
Key Readings 32
References 33
Note 1.3 Why Invest in ECD? The School Readiness
and School Achievement Arguments (for Policy
Dialogue with Ministers of Education) 35
Poor Children Are Often Not Ready to Learn by
the Time They Enter Primary School 35Contents vii
Lack of School Readiness among Poor Children
Leads to Costly Inefficiencies in the Public
Education System 37
There Is Strong Evidence That ECD Interventions
Yield Significant Benefits in Terms of School
Readiness and Achievement, Particularly
among Poor Children 38
ECD Investments Can Also Have a Positive
Impact on the Education of Older Girls 40
Notes 40
Key Readings 41
References 41
Section 2 Assessing Needs, Measuring Outcomes,
and Establishing Policy Frameworks 45
Note 2.1 Data Collection for Designing, Monitoring,
and Evaluating ECD Interventions 47
Assessing the Needs of Young Children for
Situation Analyses and Monitoring 48
Assessing the Scope and Quality of Existing ECD
Services for Situation Analyses and Monitoring 49
Measuring Child Development Outcomes 55
Considerations for Interpreting Data 64
Notes 64
Key Readings 65
References 65
Note 2.2 A Policy Framework and Institutional
Arrangements for Integrated Services 67
Rationale for Creating an ECD Policy
Framework 68
Elements of an ECD Policy Framework 70
Process Phases in Developing a Policy
Framework 71
Elements of Successful Policy and Institutional
Frameworks 72
Notes 76
Key Readings 76
References 76viii Contents
Section 3 Strategic Entry Points for ECD Investments 79
Note 3.1 Center-Based ECD Programs with a Focus
on School Readiness 81
Targeting Considerations 82
Value-Added of Including a Parenting Information
Component 92
Center-Based ECD Programs:
Summary and Moving Forward 96
Notes 97
Key Readings 97
References 97
Note 3.2 Home-Based ECD Programs for Behavior
Change in Health, Nutrition, and Parenting 103
Care and Parenting Practices Support the
Health, Growth, and Overall Development
of Children 104
Strategies for Family Behavior Change 111
Implementation Challenges to Parent
Education Programs 115
ECD Programs for Behavior Change in
Health, Nutrition, and Parenting: Summary
and Moving Forward 118
Note 119
Key Readings 119
References 119
Note 3.3 Communication and Media Campaigns
Aimed at Families with Young Children 125
General Principles of Planning Communication
Campaigns 126
Selected Case Studies 128
Lessons Learned 132
Communication/Media Campaigns
for Families with Young Children: Summary
and Moving Forward 135
Notes 135
Key Readings 136
References 136