Sign our letter to President Cyril Ramaphosa
Dear President Ramaphosa,
As a coalition of early years civil society and experts, we congratulate South Africa on assuming the G20 Presidency at this pivotal moment in global history. Your chosen theme of “Solidarity, Equality and Sustainable Development” powerfully captures the interconnected challenges we face, and the collaborative solutions needed to address them.
We particularly commend your commitment to placing Africa’s developmental priorities at the heart of the G20 agenda. With 70% of Africa’s population under 30, the continent’s future truly lies in its young people. Children’s right to education is encapsulated by Article 11 of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child. However, this demographic dividend can only be realized if we invest in children from their earliest years.
Building on your government’s leadership and the commitments made by Brazil during its G20 Presidency, we urge South Africa to place early childhood at the heart of the G20 agenda in 2025.
The evidence is clear: investing in the early years is one of our most powerful tools for breaking the cycles of poverty and creating more equitable societies. This is particularly crucial for Africa, where millions of young children are not reaching their full potential due to lack of access to quality early years support. Your emphasis on equality and solidarity aligns perfectly with the transformative potential of early childhood development.
As South Africa assumes the G20 Presidency, we respectfully request you to champion early childhood development as a cornerstone of Africa’s development and the realization of the African Union’s Agenda 2063. Specifically, we ask South Africa to::
1. Recognize the significant gap in funding for early childhood care and education and prioritize bridging this gap as a key part of the G20 agenda.
2. Advocate for universal access to high-quality early childhood interventions through three catalytic goals:
– Universal access to quality primary healthcare for mothers and children, from pregnancy through early childhood.
– Universal access to inclusive and quality preschool education.
– Universal support for families, including affordable childcare, child benefits, as well as parent and caregiver support.
3. Lead the way in securing commitments for the first-ever International Summit on Early Childhood, which intends to transform lifelong outcomes for all children.
When we invest in a child’s earliest years, we set in motion a powerful ripple effect that transforms entire societies. Quality early childhood support shapes individual futures while strengthening families and empowering communities. The evidence shows these investments multiply across generations – boosting education outcomes, increasing workforce participation, improving public health, and accelerating economic growth.
Expanding the early childhood sector could generate 43 million jobs globally, while in sub-Saharan Africa, every dollar invested in preschool education yields a $33 return.
Crucially, leaders do not need to wait decades to see results. New research (Their world, 2024) shows that a modest investment of around 1% of GDP by G20 countries could transform millions of lives within just a few years – lifting 17 million children out of poverty and enabling 70 million women to enter the workforce.
This is a pivotal moment to recognize investment not just as a moral imperative; but a powerful strategy to tackle poverty, reduce inequality, and accelerate progress toward the realisation of multiple Sustainable Development Goals. When resources are stretched, the best strategy is for countries to invest on the children to build a strong foundation for the advancement of future human development.
Your G20 Presidency provides an unprecedented opportunity to advocate for the developing economies of Africa and the Global South. By championing early childhood development, South Africa can help build the foundation for the Africa We Want – an Africa where every child can thrive, regardless of where they are born.
This agenda perfectly embodies your call for “practical steps that will resolve global challenges.” When we invest in young children, we invest in equality, solidarity, and sustainable development – the very principles that define your presidency.
We stand ready to support South Africa’s leadership in this critical effort and look forward to working together to secure a brighter future for all of Africa’s children.
Yours sincerely,
Theirworld
Poloko Nuggert Ntshwarang, ACERWC Special Rapporteur for Education
UNICEF
Smart Start South Africa
Ilifa Labantwana
International Step by Step Association
Arab Network for Early Childhood
The African Early Childhood Network
Asia-Pacific Regional Network for Early Childhood
Moving Minds Alliance
Education International
Global Business Coalition for Education
4daddy
ADPP Moçambique
African Center For Early Childhood Development
ANDI
ARISE ECD Forum
ARRC
Bhunhu Consultancy
Blind SA
Botswana Preschool Association
Brand Mudzo Social Enterprise
Bright Minds Innovative International Academy
Capital Park Primary
Care for Eucation
Center for School Leadership
Chidinma Ibemere Foundation
Child’s Destiny and Development Organisation (CHIDDO)
Climate Resilient Community (CRC)
Connect Network
Dada Yangu Organization
DAS Group of Companies (a division of Omnicom)
DataDrive2030
DeafBlind South Africa
D.G. Murray Trust
Disabled Children Action Group
Do More Foundation
Dubai Cares
Early Childhood Development Association of Malta
Early Childhood Development Coalition
Early Start Tanzania Initiatives
Early Years Climate Action Alliance
ECD Coalition of Malawi
ECD Moms
Educate For Hope Africa
Education for All Coalition
Emthonjeni Wokuphila Community Development Center
Enjuba
Gauteng Department of Education
Genext Millionaires
Grow ECD
Hashtag Brands
HeadStart Kids NPC
Heaven on Earth Project
Hekima
Hodari Foundation
Intergenerational Impact
Instituto Jardins da Infância
International Child Development Initiatives
International Rescue Committee
International Society for Human Rights Morocco
Isabel Academy
Jelly Beanz
Joyful Steps Learning Center
Kidogo
KW Strategy
Learned Worth Consult
Learning for Well-being Institute
Lweya Honey Initiative
Manica Youth Assembly
Matters Childhood
Matty Educational Services
National Association of Child Care Workers
National Early Childhood Development Alliance
National Youth Service
NGO Coalition on Child Rights
Noor Ur Rehman
Nys
Partners Hungary Foundation
Pearls In the Rubbles Education Foundation
Preschool Market Singapore
Primêre Skool Worcester Primary School
Research To Empower
Robotopia
Rural Educational Improvement and Development
SANECD
Save the Children South Africa
SAVWA
SEED Care & Support Foundation
Seriti Institute
Shonaquip Social Enterprise
Sikhula Sonke Early Childhood Development
Six Bricks Education
SiyaSumthingZW
Somero Uganda
SoulBeeGood
South Africa Home of Hope National Programme
South African Disability Alliance
South African National Child Rights Coalition
Tanzania Early Childhood Education and Care
Tanzania Youth Espouse for Gender and Development
Tanznaia ECD Network
Teleza Charity Foundation
Thaki
Thandanani Children’s Foundation
The Early Opportunities Initiative
The Marian Rose Foundation
The Reach Trust
The Two Lilies Fund
Think Equal
Thusanang Trust
Tshepong Stimulation Centre
Tshikazi Foundation
Uhambo Foundation
Unique Foundation
Upsa
Usoni Kids
Utkalika Routray
Vertentes Ecossistema de Saude Mental
Viridian
VVOB
Wesolve4x
Young Ecolo
Young Teddys Daycare
Young Tinker Foundation
Youths for Inclusive and Sustainable Development (YFISD)
Zambian Albinism Matters Organization
Add your name, your organisation…