3rd Asia-Pacific Regional Policy Forum on Early Childhood Care and Education, 5-6 June 2018, Kathmandu, Nepal
Since 2013, the UNESCO Asia and Pacific Regional Bureau for Education, UNICEF and ARNEC, with other key partners, have been organizing the Asia-Pacific Regional Policy Forum on ECCE to provide a platform for high-level policy-makers of Asia-Pacific countries to share knowledge and discuss strategies to expand access to, and improve the quality of, comprehensive, integrated, and holistic ECCE. Specifically, the first forum looked at increasing investments in ECCE, and the second forum discussed innovative strategies to improve the equity and quality of ECCE within the region. Following the two regional policy forums, a series of major regional events, such as the annual ARNEC ECD conference and the Pacific ECD conference, took place to further create momentum for increasing access to, and the quality of, ECCE programmes in the region.
UNESCO Bangkok took advantage of this momentum by bringing together ECCE/ECD policy makers in the region to the 3rd Asia-Pacific Regional Policy Forum on ECCE 2018 to discuss possible ways to collaborate across all sectors and reach high-level agreement on sub-regional strategies to expand high-quality ECCE to facilitate the achievement of SDG 4.2.
This year’s forum was convened jointly with the 2018 Asia-Pacific Regional ECD Conference organized by ARNEC. Under the theme “Towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals: what is a successful multi-sectoral approach to ECD?”, the conference analyzed, assessed, and provided case studies on comprehensive, multi-sectoral, and good quality ECD services leading to the holistic development of young children. The Government of Nepal hosted the Third Regional Policy Forum on ECCE and the Regional ECD Conference in order to continue the sharing and exchange of knowledge and experiences among countries and discuss innovative strategies to improve the equity and quality of ECCE within the region.
OBJECTIVE OF THE POLICY FORUM
The objective of the 3rd Asia-Pacific Regional Policy Forum on ECCE is to provide a platform for high-level policy-makers of Asia-Pacific countries to share experiences and lessons learnt in developing and implementing ECCE policies and discuss innovative multi-sectoral approaches to improve the equity and quality of ECCE within the region.
Specific objectives are to:
1. Review the progress of localizing and implementing SDG 4.2 since the Putrajaya Declaration of 2016.
2. Showcase innovative multi-sectoral ECCE initiatives for disadvantaged groups that are cost-effective, scalable and sustainable.
3. Develop draft regional action plan on the operationalization and monitoring of SDG target 4.2.
For further information, please contact ecce-forum@unesco.org
Resources
Photos Gallery: https://photos.app.goo.gl/oM1rKfU0klqnQ0DX2
Press
- Taking SDG 4.2 from Policy to Action: Nepal hosts 3rd Asia-Pacific Regional Policy Forum on Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE)
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Kathmandu Statement spells out principles championing early childhood care and education
Programme & Presentations
Tuesday, 5 June 2018
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Time |
Programme |
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08:00 – 08:30 |
Registration |
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09:00 – 10:10
Grand Regal Ballroom |
Joint Opening Ceremony of the Asia-Pacific Regional Policy Forum on Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) and the 2018 Asia-Pacific Regional Early Childhood Development (ECD) Conference
National Anthem of Nepal
Inauguration by Right Honourable Prime Minister, Mr. K.P. Sharma Oli, Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal
Chaired by Mr. Giriraj Mani Pokharel, Honourable Minister for Education, Science and Technology, Government of Nepal
Speakers:
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10:10 – 10:30 |
Coffee/Tea Break |
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10:10 – 10:30 Regency Hall |
Press Conference (MoEST, UNICEF, UNESCO, ARNEC) |
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10:30 – 11:30
Grand Regal Ballroom |
Keynote Address Implementation Research, Practice and Partnerships: Informing a Multisectoral Approach to ECD Chair: Dr. Mae Chu Chang, ARNEC Board of Directors
Dr. Aisha Yousafzai Associate Professor of Global Health Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan, School of Public Health
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11:30 – 12:30
Grand Regal Ballroom |
Nepal’s Progress and Plans on Early Childhood Development (ECD)
Dr. Teertha Raj Dhakal, Joint Secretary National Planning Commission, Government of Nepal |
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12:30 – 14:00 Garden Area |
Lunch Break |
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14:00 – 15:30
Crystal Hall |
Ministerial roundtable I: Setting the Stage Co-Chairs: Hon Giriraj Mani Pokhrel, Minister of Education, Science and Technology, Nepal
Mr. Shigeru Aoyagi, Regional Director, UNESCO Asia and Pacific Regional Bureau for Education
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15:30 – 15:45 |
Coffee/Tea Break |
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15:45 – 18:00
Crystal Hall |
Ministerial roundtable II Co-Chairs: Mr. Ahmed Shafeeu, Minister of State for Education, Ministry of Education, Maldives
Mr. Philippe Cori, Deputy Regional Director, UNICEF Regional Office for South Asia (ROSA)
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18:45 – 20:30 Grand Regal Ballroom |
Welcome dinner by the host country |
Wednesday, 6 June 2018
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Time |
Programme |
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09:00 - 09:05
Grand Regal Ballroom |
Announcements and Reminders for the day
Chair: Dr. Margaret Sims, ARNEC Steering Committee Member |
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09:05 – 10:00 Grand Regal Ballroom |
Keynote Address Global Trends in Early Childhood Development Building Political Commitment
Dr. Pia Britto, Chief and Senior Advisor, Early Childhood Development, UNICEF, New York |
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10:00 – 10:15
Grand Regal Ballroom |
Short presentation on China's Poverty alleviation and ECD: From pilot to Policy
Mr. Lui Mai, Secretary General, China Development Research Foundation (CDRF)
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10:15 – 11:00
Grand Regal Ballroom |
to TRANSFORM health and human potential
Ms. Sheila Manji, Project Consultant World Health Organization, Geneva |
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11:00 – 11:15 |
Coffee/Tea Break |
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11:15 – 12:45
Grand Regal Ballroom |
The Regional ECD Conference Sub-theme 3: Presentation on Early Learning Chair: Ms. Urmila Sarkar, Regional Education Advisor, UNICEF Regional Office for South Asia (ROSA)
Introductory presentation: Ms. Ameena Mohamed Didi Education Specialist and ECD Focal Point UNICEF Regional Office for South Asia (ROSA)
Presentations from the Region/countries:
Mapping of early learning interventions in South Asia (Collaboration between UNICEF-ROSA and ARNEC) Dr. Emma Pearson Senior Lecturer, Bishop Grosseteste University, United Kingdom
Promoting Evidence-based, Accelerated School Readiness at Scale in Lao PDR: Experiences from Plan International’s LEARN Project Ms. Jodie Fonseca LEARN Project Director, Plan International, Laos
Experiences of Myanmar in Implementing the East Asia Pacific - Early Child Development Scales (EAP-ECDS) Dr. Aye Aye Myint Rector, Yangon University of Education
Moderated Q&A |
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12:45 – 14:00 Garden Area |
Lunch Break |
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14:00 – 14:30
Crystal Hall |
Ministerial Roundtable III: Introducing Regional Action Plan Chair: Ms. Urmila Sarkar, Regional Education Advisor, UNICEF South Asia (ROSA)
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14:30 – 15:30
Crystal Hall, Senate & Balcony Hall |
Sub-regional Discussion (breakout session)
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15:30 – 15:45 |
Coffee/Tea Break |
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15:45 – 17:10 Crystal Hall |
Ministerial roundtable IV: Adoption of Regional Action Plan Co Chairs: Mr. Khaga Raj Baral, Secretary, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Nepal
Mr. Shigeru Aoyagi, Regional Director, UNESCO Asia and Pacific Regional Bureau for Education
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17:10 – 17:40 Crystal Hall |
Closing Ceremony
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