21 December 2021

Cost–Benefit Analysis of Investments in Early Childhood in Burundi

This study constitutes an investment case for early childhood development (ECD) in Burundi. It provides extensive empirical evidence that can be used to advocate for investing in young children within the country, as both a sound moral and a rational economic choice. It explores the results of a cost–benefit analy...
16 November 2021

Development of an Investment Case for Early Childhood Development in South Africa

This report makes a case for the Government of South Africa to invest in Early Childhood Development (ECD) by presenting costs and benefits of investing in the early years of life. The impact of ECD interventions on education, earnings and health means that they would help realize a range of goals prioritized in t...
28 February 2021

Quantifying Heckman: Are Governments in Eastern and Southern Africa Maximizing Returns on Investments in Early Childhood Development?

This paper analyzes how much governments and development partners in Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) are spending on early childhood development (ECD) services using education and health expenditures as a proxy. The analysis draws inspiration from the seminal work of Nobel Laureate James Heckman (2008), which de...
06 March 2019

Balancing on the right tracks

It is a hot and dusty day in the Kalobeyei Refugee Settlement, though the sounds of children singing and dancing on the ‘Lunch Train’ are exuberant. Six year old Aysha is full steam ahead today. She is beaming. Earlier she was the first to volunteer to help the class of around 200 children with their alphabet soun...