Pacific countries and territories have joined together to ensure that all young children reach their full potential, so they can create a good future for themselves, their nation and the region.

vision

Vision

All young children across the Pacific reach their full potential so they can create a good future for themselves, their nation and the region
leadership

Mission

PRC4ECD will guide and strengthen a whole-of-government, whole-of-society approach to early childhood development across the Pacific to ensure that every child and his/her parents have access to a full package of quality services.

PRC4ECD Background

At the 49th Pacific Islands Forum in Nauru in 2018, Pacific Forum Leaders committed to “leading a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach at the national level to address NCDs, childhood obesity and early childhood development (ECD)”.

In line with this mandate, Pacific countries established the Pacific Regional Council for Early Childhood Development(PRC4ECD) to guide and strengthen a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to ECD. The Council, comprised of Ministries of Finance, Education, Health and Social Welfare (or its equivalent), is a unique and high-level multi-sectoral body that fosters a collaborative and coordinated approach across governments, civil society, private sector, and other relevant stakeholders.

PRC4ECD is the custodian of the Pasifika Call to Action on ECD and provides support to countries to fulfill this action agenda for children.

PRC4ECD Structure

PRC4ECD has representation from each of the 15 Pacific island countries and territories: Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tokelau, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.

The Council members are comprised of at least two Ministers – one from the Ministry of Finance,and at least one from the social sector (Ministries of Health, Education, and the Ministry responsible for Social Welfare).

The Steering Committee, which supports the full Council, is comprised of at least two Permanent Secretaries or CEOs- one from the Ministry of Finance, and at least one from the social sector (Ministries of Health, Education and Social Welfare) from each of the 15 countries and territories.

UNICEF Pacific is the Secretariat of the Council, in recognition of UNICEF’s mandate for the rights of children and its leading role in promoting ECD in the region.

Functions of PRC4ECD

Regional coordination, collaboration and reporting on ECD

UNICEF_PNG_Lae_0126
Leadership, collaboration and coordination to promote ECD as a regional priority and support countries in strengthening sytems for young children and families; Promotion of ECD in regional reporting mechanisms and processes to Pacific Leaders including, but not limited to, the Forum Education Ministers Meeting (FEdMM), Forum Economic and Finance Ministers (FEMM), Pacific Health Ministers Meeting

Advocacy
and
Networking

N37A5133
Advocacy, networking and partnerships with a wide range of stakeholders, including public, private and civil society, to stimulate growing momentum for ECD across the region

Knowledge Sharing
and
Capacity Building

Sokhin_UNICEF_Palau_029
Broker knowledge, build capacity, and facilitate learning exchanges on ECD – recognizing that there are sector-specific and cross-sectoral themes within the ECD agenda. Specifically, PRC4ECD commits to promote approaches to ECD that are uniquely ‘Pacific’ and build on the existing capabilities and needs of Pacific Island nations.

Results
Based
Monitoring

20230602-ROA_Nutrition
Support well-coordinated processes for data collection on ECD and promote evidence-based decision making and programme development for young children. ECD monitoring will build on data and reporting processes that already exist, demonstrating progress towards international commitments like the SDGs, aligned with existing regional frameworks, and supportive of national development plans.

Resource
and
financing

UNICEF_PNG_Lae_0056
Promote better public financing and management of ECD-related public services. Support resource mobilization and facilitate the harmonization of financial support on ECD across donors and partners.

Quality
and
Management

DSC07120
Support mechanisms to ensure that children and their families are provided with quality services. Quality services are essential for young children’s holistic development. Poor-quality services not only fail to contribute to the child’s development but can even be harmful. Governments have the dual responsibility to provide services and regulate their provision to ensure quality.

Pacific Council for ECD Logo

PRC4ECD has chosen the baby sea turtle as its symbol, as it represents both childhood and the Pacific community as a whole.

Turtles are considered sacred in many Pacific cultures, symbolizing longevity, wellness, and protection — all of which are intrinsic to the concept of early childhood development.

Turtles range widely across the Pacific. They are not associated with any single nation, and thus act as an inclusive symbol for the Blue Continent’s communities.

The baby turtle in the logo for the PRC4ECD reflects the vulnerability and fragility of early childhood. Just as baby turtles are vulnerable to nature’s elements as they make their way from their nest to the big Blue Pacific Ocean, young children of the region are also at a vital stage in their lives that has long-lasting impacts on their futures.

From the ages of 0 to 8 years, as their brains develop, the support given to young children is essential, impacting their well-being and productivity well into the rest of their lives.

In recognition of the various significances of the turtle in Pacific cultures and mythology, the PRC4ECD also recognises that the baby turtle has a goal – symbolised by newly added elements of the island and sunrise on the horizon – to survive and thrive as an important and vital part of our ocean ecosystem.

Similarly, the PRC4ECD has a goal for young children of the Pacific on the horizon – so that young children can build a resilient and prosperous future for themselves, their communities, and the Blue Pacific region.