Here are some international websites that South African ECD partners and teachers may find helpful. This list is not complete, but it should give you a good starting point. Just click the blue link to go to the website.
Global Strategy & Knowledge Hubs
These websites offer up-to-date research and set global policy standards.
- ECDAN (Early Childhood Development Action Network): Their ECD Knowledge Gateway brings together reports, case studies, and toolkits.
- UNICEF – Early Childhood Development: This site offers important resources, such as the Nurturing Care Framework. The “UNICEF Parenting” section is helpful for learning how to explain complex developmental milestones in simple terms.
- UNESCO – Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE): Here you can find global standards and information about the right to education. Their Global Partnership Strategy helps you follow international trends in the sector up to 2030.
Implementation & Workforce Support
These organisations focus on practical support and guidance for practitioners.
- Early Childhood Workforce Initiative (ECWI): This joint project by ISSA and R4D offers Country Briefs and other resources to help ECD teachers and trainers.
- Childhood Education International (CE International): This organisation offers global consulting and professional learning. Their Childhood Education Innovations magazine is a good source for educational materials.
- International Step by Step Association): This network leads in Europe and Central Asia. Their resources on quality standards and Professional Learning Communities are used globally.
Practical Tools & Professional Development
- NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children): Although based in the US, this group is a leader in Developmentally Appropriate Practice. Their journal, Young Children, offers innovative educational materials.
- Zero to Three: This website focuses on infants and toddlers, and its resource library has information about essential care.
- World Forum Foundation: This platform connects ECD professionals from over 150 countries. Their Working Groups, such as those on Nature-Based Play or Men in ECD, provide specialised content for a variety of interests.
Funding & Innovation
- Global Partnership for Education (GPE): This organisation focuses on early learning in developing countries. Their ECE Accelerator Toolkit helps you quickly find and share useful content.
- The World Bank – Early Childhood Development: Their data and infographics can be used to make the economic case for ECD, targeting donors and government stakeholders in South Africa.
