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
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