Unlocking Potential: Early Years Childhood Development

Programme Partner: Tanoto Foundation

Region: Southeast Asia and China

Today we all know the importance of investing in human capital development, and increasingly, as early as possible. Around the world, future income loss for young children who missed out on early learning and development will be the highest – with an estimation of USD$1.6 trillion. And while investment in early childhood and education development (ECD) programming has the highest social and economic return potential – estimated at USD$17 for every USD$1 – there are still very differing levels of commitment and investment in the space in Southeast Asia and Asia in general.

Some countries have established solid integrated national policies and yet others are still struggling to move towards that objective. A common challenge in the region is the lack implementation of systemic governance and policies at both national and local levels, including limited availability of contextualised models and investments.

Tanoto Foundation aims to leverage its learning experience and bring this to other countries and areas, in order to replicate the journey, increase awareness of the importance of early years investment and create contextualised ECD models focusing in the Southeast Asia region.

Desired Outcomes:

• Expanding regional ECD landscaping and contextualisation of applicable, efficient, effective, scalable, and sustainable ECD model in target countries across Southeast Asia (priority) and the larger Asian region, based on the Nurturing Care Framework.
• Increasing access to quality ECD services, especially for children of age 0 to 3 years old, in Indonesia and China, and the target countries in Southeast Asia, and the larger Asia region.
• Establishment of a working, active, and collaborative network of philanthropy organisations across Southeast Asia and the larger Asian region, that is committed to model, advocate, and advance ECD progress in their respective countries.