The African Center for Early Childhood Development (AfC-ECD) was honored to participate in high-level global discussions on Pathways to Scale Early Years Interventions, held on the sidelines of the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). The panels were jointly hosted by the Brookings Institution, the Queen Rania Foundation, and Theirworld, bringing together leading global actors committed to advancing early childhood development (ECD).

AfC-ECD was represented by its Director of Programmes and Strategic Partnerships, Dr. Natnael Asres Yamnew, who shared Africa’s perspective on scaling early childhood solutions. Drawing on the Centre’s experience in Ethiopia and across the continent, Dr. Natnael highlighted the critical role of strong local systems, city-level innovation, and community-led approaches in expanding access to quality early years interventions.

In addition to the global panel discussion, Dr. Natnael engaged in a series of high-level events and bilateral exchanges with international partners, further positioning AfC-ECD as a key contributor to global ECD dialogue. His contributions emphasized that sustainable scale is achievable when interventions are embedded within national and local systems, supported by parents and communities, and strengthened through both longstanding and emerging partnerships.

Participants across the discussions underscored the importance of grounding scale in evidence, collaboration, and local ownership. For AfC-ECD, the engagement marked an important milestone in ensuring that African experiences, innovations, and lessons learned are meaningfully reflected within the global early childhood agenda.

Throughout the week-long engagement, AfC-ECD amplified Africa’s voice, demonstrating how city-level initiatives, community-driven programmes, and evidence-informed approaches can contribute to the global movement to improve outcomes for young children. The meetings also provided valuable opportunities to reconnect with trusted allies and to forge new partnerships with organizations equally committed to advancing early childhood development.

These engagements reaffirmed AfC-ECD’s growing role as a bridge between global advocacy and African realities. The successful conclusion of the events signals a renewed momentum toward action, aligning global opportunities with AfC-ECD’s 2026–2030 Strategy as the Centre looks ahead to the 2027 International Finance Summit for Early Childhood.