A Review of Program Convergence Budgeting for Early Childhood Care and Development

Highlights

The Review of Program Convergence Budgeting for Early Childhood Care and Development (PCB-ECD) examines how the Government of the Philippines has implemented convergence budgeting to support Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) programmes. The study assesses the effectiveness of current financing and coordination mechanisms and identifies opportunities to strengthen investments in young children and their families.

Drawing on policy analysis, stakeholder consultations, and institutional reviews, the report highlights key lessons, implementation challenges, and good practices in ECCD financing. It identifies priority reforms to improve governance, accountability, inter-agency coordination, and performance-informed budgeting, helping ensure that public resources deliver better outcomes for children.

The report also provides actionable recommendations to strengthen the institutionalization of convergence budgeting for ECCD. These recommendations support more coordinated, evidence-based, adequately financed, and results-oriented investments across sectors that contribute to child development, education, health, nutrition, protection, and family well-being.

By improving the alignment of policies, budgets, and accountability mechanisms across government agencies, the report contributes to ongoing efforts to strengthen public finance systems for children and advance equitable and sustainable investments in early childhood development. This aligns with broader efforts to improve public finance for children and increase the effectiveness of social sector spending in the Philippines.

Support from the EU–UNICEF Public Finance Facility

This study was conducted in collaboration with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), Department of Education (DepEd), and the Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) Council, under the technical leadership of the Social Policy Section of UNICEF Philippines. 

The report is one of the evidence products generated through the EU-UNICEF Public Finance Facility for South and Southeast Asia, a regional initiative that supports governments in strengthening public finance systems to better realize children's rights. The Facility promotes more efficient, equitable, accountable, and child-responsive use of public resources through budget analysis, evidence generation, policy engagement, and knowledge sharing. 

In the Philippines, implementation of the Public Finance Facility is led by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) with support from the European Union and UNICEF Philippines. Through this partnership, government and development partners work together to strengthen public finance for children and improve the delivery of services that support children's development and well-being.