The early years shape every aspect of a child’s future—yet crises increasingly disrupt the services children and families rely on. Preparedness is therefore not optional; it is a shared responsibility.

This Compendium on Early Childhood Development in Emergencies introduces a practical framework built around five interconnected components—Emergency Response, Flexible Service Delivery, Workforce Capacity and Well-being, Integrated MHPSS, and Governance & Coordination—to help systems anticipate, adapt, and recover.

It is grounded in real experiences from ISSA Members, whose stories show what preparedness looks like in practice and how networks strengthen responses through shared learning, collaboration, and solidarity.

This resource is an invitation to collective action: to center young children in emergency planning and to build resilient systems—and networks—that enable every child to thrive, even in adversity

The Early Childhood System on a good day

ECD System Elements

Disaster strikes

Preparing the ECD System for Emergencies

ECD System Elements

ISSA’s Journey

By Elements By Emergencies

Take-Aways

Conclusion Resources

Resources

Read the full compendium: ecdie-compendium.pdf‍

‍Further Additional Reading:

‍1. Building Bright Futures: How to Integrate Ukraine's Refugee Children Through Early Childhood Education and Care

‍2. Capacity Statement: Early Childhood Care and Development in Emergencies‍

3. Early Childhood Care and Development in Emergencies: A Programme Guide

‍4. Early Childhood Development in Emergencies Programming Guidance Note‍

5. Emergency Response Preparedness Approach (IASC)

‍6. Governing Quality Early Childhood Education and Care in a Global Crisis‍

7. Guideline: Emergency Response Preparedness (IASC Task Team, 2015)

‍8. The Need to Provide Holistic Support to Young Children in Acute Emergencies

ISSA’s Journey

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