Pacific Council for ECD

Pacific countries and territories have come together in a shared commitment to ensure that all young children reach their full potential—building the foundation for a brighter future for themselves, their nations, and the region as a whole.

Vision

All young children across the Pacific thrive and reach their full potential—laying the foundation for a brighter future for themselves, their communities, and the region.

Mission

PRC4ECD will lead and support a comprehensive whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to early childhood development across the Pacific, ensuring that every child and their caregivers have access to a full package of high-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 includes representation from all 15 Pacific Island Countries and Territories: Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tokelau, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.

The Council is composed of at least two Ministers from each country—one representing the Ministry of Finance and at least one from the social sector (such as the Ministries of Health, Education, or Social Welfare).
Supporting the Council is a Steering Committee made up of at least two senior officials—either Permanent Secretaries or Chief Executive Officers—from each country. These representatives also include one from the Ministry of Finance and one from a key social sector ministry.

UNICEF Pacific serves as the Secretariat of the Council, in recognition of its mandate to uphold the rights of children and its leadership role in advancing early childhood development across the region.

Functions of PRC4ECD

Regional coordination, collaboration and reporting on ECD

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

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

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

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

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

Ensuring access to quality services is essential for the holistic development of young children. Poor-quality services may hinder development or even cause harm. Governments hold a dual responsibility: to provide these services and to regulate them—safeguarding standards and ensuring that families receive the support they need.

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 sea turtle was chosen as the PRC4ECD symbol for its deep cultural meaning across the Pacific—representing childhood, resilience, and protection.

Found throughout the region and not tied to any single nation, the turtle serves as an inclusive symbol for the Blue Pacific.

The baby turtle reflects the vulnerability of early childhood. Just as hatchlings face challenges on their journey to the ocean, young children navigate a critical stage of growth that shapes their futureThe island and sunrise in the logo symbolize hope and purpose—mirroring PRC4ECD’s goal of helping all Pacific children survive, thrive, and build a strong future for themselves and their communities.