Act for Early Years a Theirworld Campaign

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

International Step by Step Association (ISSA)

Arab Network for Early Childhood (ANECD)

The Two Lillies Fund

Zimbabwe Network of Early Childhood Development Actors (ZINECDA)

Early Opportunities

Asia Pacific Regional Network for Early Childhood (ARNEC)

Education for All Coalition

International Rescue Committee

 UNICEF, the United Nations agency for children

The African Early Childhood Network

Early Childhood Development Coalition Malawi

Tanzania Early Childhood Education and Care (TECEC)

Manica Youth Assembly

4DADDY (Brazil)

Seriti Institute

Thaki

Unique Foundation The Gambia

Dubai Cares

Andi

GBC-Education

CHIDDO

Marshall

Early Childhood Development Association Malta

Think Equal

Tanzania ECD Network (TECDEN)

The Lego Foundation

Education International (375 member organisations representing more than 33 million teachers and education support personnel in 180 countries and territories)

DAS (Omnicom)

Moving Minds Alliance

Gauteng Department Of Education

Usoni Kids

SEED Care & Support Foundation

International Rescue Committee

Education for All Coalition

KidogoDataDrive2030

Learned Worth Consult

Young Tinker Foundation

Zambian Albinism Matters Organization

Instituto Arrvores Vivas

Dada Yangu Organization Hekima

Unique Foundation – Youth Development

Tanzania Youth Espouse for Gender and Development

Intergenerational Impact

SoulBeeGood

International Society for Human Rights MoroccoResearch To Empower

Southern Africa Early Childhood Development Network Do More Foundation. South Africa

Botswana Preschool Association

DG Murray Trust

South Africa Early Years Climate Action Alliance

Seriti Institute, South Africa

The Reach Trust, South Africa

Matters Childhood, Kenya

Learning for Well-being Institute

Manica Youth AssemblyInstituto Jardins da Infancia, Brazil

Hodari Foundation, Uganda

Bright Minds Innovative International Academy

Thaki

CHIDDO

Early Childhood Development Association Malta

Tanzania ECD Network

Rural Educational Improvement and Development

Joyful Steps Learning CenterGrow ECD

Chidinma Ibemere Foundation

Preschool Market Singapore

Young Ecolo

Brand Mudzo Social Enterprise

Smart Start South Africa

Genext Millionaires

Capital Park Primary

ASEc+

Tshikazi Foundation

ECDmoms

Isabel Academy

Center for School Leadership

Wesolve4x

Early Start Tanzania Initiatives(ESTI)

Somero Uganda

Educate For Hope Africa

International Child Development Initiatives

Care for Eucation

VVOB Education for Development

HeadStart Kids NPC

Six Bricks Education

Robotopia

Primêre Skool Worcester Primary School

African Center For Early Childhood Development

Partners Hungary Foundatio

Add your name, your organisation…

Take Action Now