Ensuring girls and boys have a good start in life by influencing the contexts and environments in which they are growing
The brain develops most rapidly in the first five years of a child’s life. Yet, worldwide, 250 million children are not reaching their potential during these years. In 2015, an estimated six million children died before reaching age five, mostly as a result of diseases that are readily and affordably preventable and treatable. In developing countries, hundreds of millions of children do not have access to pre-school; they live in areas affected by armed conflict and climate-related disasters; and their growth is stunted, which harms their brain development.
The Aga Khan Foundation works to ensure that girls and boys have a good start in life by influencing the environments in which they are growing. Globally, our Early Childhood Development (ECD) initiatives provide 750,000 children ages 0 to 8 years with nurturing, relevant, and quality learning opportunities at costs that are affordable for governments, families, and communities.
Our goals

Improved access to quality services
Making it easier for families to access the best care, backed by the latest research

Enhanced family and community support
Strengthening existing networks to ensure children and communities are well resourced and supported

Strengthened human resources and institutions
Our impact
children (ages 0 to 6) benefit from AKF’s early childhood programs
teachers, health workers, and facilitators benefit from AKF’s early childhood programs
people who have completed AKDN’s Science of ECD course