One Region, One Voice: Asia-Pacific Officials Make the Case for Financing the Early Years
On 21 October 2026, ARNEC brought the people who shape those budgets into one room. Chaired by ARNEC during the 2026 Asia-Pacific Regional Learning Forum on ECD, the ECD Financing Dialogue gathered 11 senior government officials from 10 countries, alongside SEAMEO CECCEP, the SEAMEO Secretariat, Tanoto Foundation, UNESCO, UNICEF and Theirworld's Act For Early Years campaign.
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Advocacy : ECD Governance, Policy, and Financing
Organisation : ARNEC
When Mayors Lead, Children Gain: Makassar and Surabaya Show How Cities Can Finance the Early Years
If the 2026 Asia-Pacific Regional Learning Forum on Early Childhood Development carried one message, it was this: ECD financing becomes real when local leaders own it. Few made that case more convincingly than Mayor Munafri Arifuddin of Makassar and Mayor Eri Cahyadi of Surabaya.
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Advocacy : ECD Governance, Policy, and Financing
Organisation : ARNEC
Stakeholders from Across the Asia-Pacific Region Gather in Jakarta to Take Collective Action for Young Children
Around 150 government representatives, early childhood development (ECD) experts, researchers, practitioners, development partners, and philanthropic organisations from across Asia-Pacific are gathering in Jakarta for the 2026 Asia-Pacific Regional Learning Forum on Early Childhood Development, taking place from 20 to 22 October.
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Advocacy : Clean, safe and sustainable environment
Organisation : ARNEC
Nepal’s flash floods underscore the need for investing in child-centered, climate-resilient infrastructure
ARNEC stands in solidarity with the children, families, communities and colleagues in Nepal affected by the devastating flash floods along the Nepal–Tibet border. The images emerging from the affected areas are deeply distressing as more than 780 people have died and more than 2,000 are missing.
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Advocacy : Clean, safe and sustainable environment
Organisation : ARNEC
ARNEC members urge leaders to Act for Early Years
In a strong show of support for the Act for Early Years Campaign, 39 members from the Asia-Pacific Regional Network for Early Childhood (ARNEC) signed the ‘Minifesto’ and committed to help ensure that every child has the best possible start in life.
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Advocacy : Opportunity for Early Learning
Organisation : ARNEC
ARNEC, country partners hold Learning Session to amplify evidence and knowledge from UBS parenting support
ARNEC, the National Coalition for Holistic Integrative Early Childhood Development of Indonesia, and the Early Childhood Care and Development Council of the Philippines convened in Bangkok on May 6 to share key lessons learned from the MORECare4YoungChildren project.
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Advocacy : Responsive Caregiving and Playful Parenting
Organisation : ARNEC
ARNEC-UBS project site visits highlight effective communication strategies
The visit highlighted the importance of using local language in effectively communicating key messages on early childhood development (ECD), making sessions more relatable and accessible for families.
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Advocacy : Responsive Caregiving and Playful Parenting
Organisation : ARNEC
ARNEC cites gains in UBS-assisted parenting project in Indonesia, Philippines in ASEAN SEAMEO forum
To support the empowerment of parents and caregivers for ECD, ARNEC Executive Director Evelyn Santiago emphasised efforts to enhance the competencies of parents, caregivers, and early childhood workers through the MORECare4YoungChildren Project.
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Advocacy : Responsive Caregiving and Playful Parenting
Organisation : ARNEC
ARNEC supports ASEAN SEAMEO Joint Roadmap
ARNEC was among the partners invited to receive a copy of the ASEAN SEAMEO Roadmap for ECCE. Other ARNEC partners who also received the Roadmap included UNESCO Jakarta, SEAMEO-CECCEP, and the Tanoto Foundation. These organisations were recognised as partners committed to supporting ECCE through the roadmap.
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Advocacy : ECD Governance, Policy, and Financing
Organisation : ARNEC
Registrations Open - PECERA 2026 Conference
Registrations for the Pacific Early Childhood Education Research Association (PECERA) 2026 Conference are open!
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Advocacy : ECD Governance, Policy, and Financing
Organisation : Singapore University of Social Sciences