Going Global With Indicators of Child Development

NCCF is working with UNICEF to assist a diverse group of developing countries identify and establish nationally accepted indicators of early child development. NCCF has partnered with six nations to help each develop its own set of indicators reflecting their national priorities. NCCF is facilitating the development of psychosocial indicators and helping the countries come to an understanding of what they can measure, maintain, implement and monitor in terms of what young children (ages 0 – 5) are expected to know and be able to do. To date, the countries selected by UNICEF to participate are Brazil, Ghana, Jordan, Paraguay, the Philippines, and South Africa. A number of other nations, including Turkey and Nepal, have also expressed interest in participating. At the project period's end, two types of reports will be generated as a result of the study. The first will be a cross-national synthesis of the different patterns and processes involved in developing indicators, and the second, a process report that the other countries could use to develop their own set of child development indicators. Globally, this initiative has the potential to produce a positive benefit for millions of children. For the researchers and fellows at NCCF, this project opens up invaluable prospects of working in the global community of child development professionals and policy-makers. For Teachers College, this is the first of its kind of collaboration with UNICEF and hopefully will pave the way for future joint ventures.

Funding Source: UNICEF

Contact: Sharon Lynn Kagan, Ed.D.; Pia Rebello-Britto, Ph.D.

Current International Projects

Completed International Projects