Reflections from the Second International Conference on South-South Cooperation on Early Childhood Development

We were honoured to join the Second International Conference on South-South Cooperation on Early Childhood Development, held in Rabat. The event was hosted by the Ministry of National Education, Preschool, and Sports of Morocco, in collaboration with UNICEF.

The conference brought together education leaders and early childhood experts from across Africa, Asia, the Americas, and Europe. Together, they explored how governance, innovation, and strong partnerships can improve the quality of early childhood education (ECE) for all children in Africa.

On Day 2, our Managing Director, Dominic Richardson, contributed to a panel on governance and quality preschool systems. He shared how the Learning for Well-being perspective can support early childhood policy, with a focus on core capacities, unique potential, and holistic development—mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual.

To illustrate this approach, he presented findings from Empoderar desde la Raíz, a project based in Bolivia. The results show how strengthening core capacities in early childhood leads to better outcomes for children and more inclusive, responsive systems.

Throughout the event, participants emphasised the value of shared learning. In particular, they recognised the importance of South-South cooperation to strengthen early years governance and practice across contexts.

We continue working through the Learning for Well-being Institute to generate meaningful evidence that informs early childhood policies. We remain committed to building partnerships rooted in trust, local knowledge, and long-term vision.

Moving forward, we will continue collaborating with others who believe that transforming early childhood systems begins by listening to children, investing in relationships, and supporting environments where every child can thrive.

Photo credit: UNICEF / Ministry of National Education, Morocco