South Africa’s child development crisis is deeper and more widespread than we thought. New research shows that not a single municipality in the country delivers the full set of essential services young children need to thrive — including nutrition, healthcare, clean water and quality early learning. This is explained in more detail in a recently published op-ed in the Daily Maverick.
Dr Grace Leach, a technical analyst in early childhood development financing, spoke to PowerFM to unpack the alarming findings from the newly released Early Childhood Development Services Index. This groundbreaking tool maps service delivery gaps in 52 municipalities and offers practical insights for decision makers across all spheres of government. Grace can also speak to how unequal service access affects families, and what it will take to shift outcomes for nearly 5 million children living in poverty.
