What is the ‘Minifesto’?
What is the ‘Minifesto’?
The Act For Early Years ‘Minifesto’ is a shared call to action urging leaders to make meaningful investments in the littlest children.
Small in size but bold in ambition, the child-sized manifesto demands urgent action in the early years – a sector too often overlooked and underfunded. It calls on political, civic and business leaders to place early childhood at the centre of decision-making – where it belongs.
Backed by leading early childhood organisations around the world, including early childhood networks, LEGO Foundation, Roger Federer Foundation, Sesame Workshop, Theirworld, UNICEF and UNESCO, the ‘Minifesto’ represents a growing global consensus: early years investment is essential for children, societies and economies to thrive.
By signing the ‘Minifesto’, leaders publicly commit to giving early childhood the attention, priority and resources it urgently needs. This enables us to move into more detailed discussions about how to turn commitment into action.
Why Does the ‘Minifesto’ Matter?
Despite decades of evidence and repeated global commitments, early childhood remains chronically underfunded and overlooked in many policies and budgets.
More than half of the world’s children lack access to essential early education and care. As a result, inequality takes hold before children ever reach school – shaping life changes long before they have any choice of their own.
“We need a path. We need agencies working together to put together goals to work towards.”
Dr Tariq Al Gurg, Dubai Cares
The ‘Minifesto’ translates evidence into action. It sets out three clear and shared goals for early years investment:
- Universal access to quality primary healthcare, supporting health, wellbeing and development from pregnancy to early childhood
- Universal access to quality preschool education
- Universal family support including affordable quality childcare, child benefits and parents and caregiver support
These goals are grounded in nurturing care, evidence of what works, and what children and families need most.
What the Minifesto is calling for
To turn these commitments into reality, Act For Early Years is calling for:
- At least $1 billion in new funding commitments from governments, international donors, businesses, and philanthropy
- Commitments to be made at the first-ever International Financing Summit on Early Years
This is not about short-term pledges. It is about building long-term plans and systems that give every child a strong foundation in life.
Why is the ‘Minifesto’ needed now?
“We need to invest in the builders of tomorrow. It’s about quality early childhood development and education.”
Sidsel Marie Kristensen, The LEGO Foundation
A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity
Around 90% of a child’s brain development happens between birth and age five — a window of growth and learning never matched again.
Experiences in these early years shape children’s health, learning, and wellbeing across their entire lives. When children receive nurturing care, early learning, and protection in this period, they are more likely to thrive. When they do not, gaps emerge early and are far harder – and more costly — to close later.
Read more about why the early years are so vital in our Early Years Explainer.
Inequality starts in the early years
Around 350 million young children worldwide need childcare but cannot access it. One in four five-year-olds has never attended preschool.
Without support in these crucial years, children fall behind before they even begin school. Families bear the cost through lost income and limited opportunities. Societies feel the impact through widening inequality, reduced productivity, and lost human potential.
“Without the right nutrition, children cannot learn. When we talk about financing, children should be at the centre of everything.”
Afshan Khan, Scaling Up Nutrition
The smartest investment we can make
Research shows that investment in the early years delivers some of the highest social and economic returns of any public policy investment.
Every dollar invested in early childhood can generate returns of up to seventeen — through better learning outcomes, improved health, stronger communities and more resilient economies.
“We need to work together in solidarity and unlock the financing we need. Often the investment is too little and too late. It’s time to act together.”
Elizabeth Lule, ECDAN
The evidence is clear. The challenge now is acting on it.
Who has signed the ‘Minifesto’?
The ‘Minifesto’ has already been signed by leaders from across the world, including ministers, mayors, presidents, first ladies and gentlemen, development and finance leaders, philanthropies, civil society organisations and public figures.
The list of signatories continues to grow – reflecting a shared recognition that early childhood must remain at the top of the world agenda.
How can I get involved?
You don’t need to be a head of state to support the Minifesto. You can:
- Encourage your minister, mayor, MP or community leader to sign
- Share a digital or physical ‘Minifesto’ and invite them to add their name
- Take a photo of the signed ‘Minifesto’ and share it on social media using #ActForEarlyYears and tagging the signatory
Your images and messages of support are shared with decision-makers at national and global meetings — helping to demonstrate growing momentum for early years investment.
Why should leaders sign the ‘Minifesto’?
“Success can only be achieved by working together – experts, businesses, champions, youth activists, government leaders – to act for early years.”
Sarah Brown, Theirworld
Around the world, millions of children are being denied the care and learning they need to thrive — and the parents, caregivers and early years workers who support them are too often overlooked.
By the time children reach school, inequalities are already entrenched.
But investing in the early years can change everything. It improves learning, health, and wellbeing. It reduces inequality at its source, breaks cycles of poverty, and transforms lives and communities.
By signing the ‘Minifesto’, leaders signal that early childhood matters — and that now is the moment to act.
Every child deserves the best start in life.
