Business leaders join UNICEF India to support children with developmental delays and disabilities
UNICEF India launches Inclusive Impact for Early Years (II4E), a platform uniting businesses, healthcare, and civil society to promote early identification, caregiver support, and inclusion for children with developmental delays and disabilities
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NEW DELHI – UNICEF India today brought together leading business leaders to advance Inclusive Impact for Early Years (II4E), a platform that encourages companies to play a bigger role in supporting young children with developmental delays, neurodivergence, autism and disabilities.
The platform promotes early identification of children's developmental challenges, caregiver support, and greater inclusion at home, in schools, and in communities.
The event introduced II4E to leaders from business, healthcare, philanthropy, civil society, and the disability sector, creating opportunities for collaboration to improve outcomes for children and to build more inclusive workplaces and communities. It also highlighted the importance of focusing on inclusive early years and disability as a continuum that begins in childhood and extends into adulthood, shaping participation in society and the workforce.
Speaking on this occasion, Dr Nande Putta, Chief of Health, UNICEF India, said, “Early childhood development interventions are among the most powerful and cost-effective equalizers we have, supporting every girl and boy, including the most vulnerable, to reach their full potential.
Through II4E, we are enabling businesses to translate their commitment into action through inclusive workplaces, caregiver support, early identification, and sustained community engagement.”
Aligned with the government’s vision of inclusion, II4E encourages businesses to contribute through family-friendly policies, employee engagement, support for caregivers and investments that support children and their families.
“Business is a key partner in advancing equity. Through II4E, early identification can lead to timely intervention, caregivers can be supported through sustained, holistic care, and India can move closer to a more inclusive society and a future-ready workforce. The opportunity now is to shape this vision and bring it to scale through collective action and cross-sectoral collaboration.”
The platform offers businesses several ways to contribute, including using their workplace infrastructure and networks to raise awareness, supporting programmes through corporate social responsibility initiatives and philanthropy, and creating inclusive workplaces that support employees and caregivers.
By bringing together businesses, technical experts, government and communities, II4E aims to expand early support for children with developmental delays and disabilities and help create a more inclusive society for future generations.
About II4E
Inclusive Impact for Early Years (II4E) is a UNICEF-incubated multi-stakeholder platform that mobilises businesses and ecosystem partners to strengthen early identification, continuity of care, caregiver support, and inclusion for children with developmental delays and disabilities, aligned to public systems and national priorities.
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About UNICEF
UNICEF strives to uphold the rights of every child, protecting them from harm and all forms of discrimination, so that they can grow up healthy and educated to reach their full potential. This work is in line with UNICEF’s globally recognized mandate and its support of national priorities.
For more information on UNICEF India and its work visit https://www.unicef.org/india/. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Google+ and LinkedIn
