Prioritising Young Children’s Development Through Multi-Sector Action

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ISSA Member: International Step by Step Association ISSA, International What happened? In emergencies, funding for and attention to early childhood development (ECD) are often limited and fragmented. Over half of humanitarian responses focus on immediate needs—such as food or shelter—while neglecting the deeper developmental, learning, and psychosocial needs of the youngest children and their caregivers. Recognising this gap, ISSA leveraged its regional network advantage, i.e., its capacity to act swiftly through interconnected partnerships, to implement a coordinated, multi-sector response for young children affected by the war in Ukraine. This approach was deployed through collaborative streams of action involving War Child Holland, Amna Refugee Healing Network, UNICEF’s ECARO office, and the Minderoo Foundation. What was needed? How did they respond? Young children in conflict zones require more than basic relief; they need integrated support that combines psychosocial care, learning, inclusion, mapping of services, and strategic coordination across sectors and levels of governance. To answer this, ISSA activated five strategic streams of actions: Key challenges: Solutions: ISSA’s network-centric model proved uniquely effective. Rapid mobilisation of expertise and resources, integrated local strategies, and adaptable programming enabled strategic responses when they were needed most. Each of the five action streams translated into tangible outcomes like capacitated professionals, cohesive local planning, inclusive services, community-driven inclusion, and stronger advocacy and learning platforms What emerged clearly is that interagency coordination is not optional but foundational. Fragmented funding and siloed approaches severely limit ECD’s effectiveness in crises. A coordinated response, from skilled workforce development to inclusive programming and strategic advocacy, yields resilience and amplifies impact. ISSA’s model shows how leveraging network advantage makes complex, integrated ECD response viable and rapid. What's in place? What's missing? Recommendations National policymakers: Local/national actors Private donors Professionals/practitioners Explore Further: The ISSA Network Advantage - Prioritizing young children's development in emergenciesISSA Member: Partners Hungary Foundation, Hungary What happened? In February 2022, when Russia invaded…ISSA Member: Trust for Social Achievement and Worldwide Foundation for Vulnerable Children, Bulgaria **What h…ISSA Member: Step by Step Centre for Education and Professional Development, Romania What happened? In…

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Supporting families for nurturing care: Training resource package for home visiting practices

This training package equips trainers of home visiting professionals with essential knowledge, skills, and tools to deliver consistent, high-quality pre-service and in-service training.

Developed by UNICEF ECARO and the International Step by Step Association (ISSA), it builds on almost ten years of collaboration and earlier home visiting modules (2017–2025). The goal is to strengthen home visiting as a key community health service supporting families from pregnancy to early childhood.

The package includes three guides: General Overview, Foundational Training, and Extended Training, each offering adaptable materials such as session plans, slides, and handouts based on nurturing and family-centered care.

It combines two main areas: (1) programmatic knowledge on child development, health, nutrition, and parental wellbeing, and (2) practical skills such as communication, relationship building, observation, problem-solving, and cultural responsiveness.

Grounded in adult learning principles, the training encourages reflection, peer learning, and practical application, fostering the professional growth of trainers and home visitors while improving the quality of home visiting services.

Trainer Guide: General Overview

Trainer Guide: Foundational Training

Day 1 PPT | PDF

Day 2 PPT | PDF

Day 3 PPT | PDF

Day 4 PPT | PDF

Day 5 PPT | PDF

Trainer Guide: Extended Training

Day 1 PPT | PDF

Day 2 PPT | PDF

Day 3 PPT | PDF

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Published in:

2025

Organization(s):

ISSA, UNICEF ECARO

Language:

English

Contact:

Ayca Alayli, aalayli@issa.nl

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State of Southern European Fathers 2024: Building Evidence for Engaging Men in Nurturing Care in Italy, Portugal, and Spain

Engaging Men and Promoting Positive Gender Norms in Early Childhood

The State of Southern European Fathers 2024 report, developed under the EMiNC initiative, explores fathers’ involvement in caregiving across Italy, Portugal, and Spain. While many men report active participation in daily care, a significant perception gap remains: 74% of fathers believe caregiving is equally shared, but only 51% of mothers agree. The findings show that mothers still carry the greater caregiving and household burden, often at the expense of their well-being and professional opportunities. At the same time, the report highlights the vital role fathers play in children’s development—greater involvement is linked to stronger emotional bonds, improved learning outcomes, and better long-term well-being for children.

Yet barriers persist: rigid workplace cultures, limited access to paid leave, and lack of affordable, quality childcare constrain men’s ability to participate equally. The report calls for robust policy reforms—such as fully paid, non-transferable leave for fathers—and investments in early childhood services that actively engage men. Public campaigns and local peer support networks are also essential to shift norms and expectations. Promoting men’s caregiving is not only a matter of gender equality, it is a key strategy to ensure all children thrive from the very start.

The report, developed under the EMiNC initiative, explores fathers’ involvement in caregiving across Italy, Portugal, and Spain. While many men report active participation in daily care, a significant perception gap remains: 74% of fathers believe caregiving is equally shared, but only 51% of mothers agree. The findings show that mothers still carry the greater caregiving and household burden, often at the expense of their well-being and professional opportunities. At the same time, the report highlights the vital role fathers play in children’s development—greater involvement is linked to stronger emotional bonds, improved learning outcomes, and better long-term well-being for children.Yet barriers persist: rigid workplace cultures, limited access to paid leave, and lack of affordable, quality childcare constrain men’s ability to participate equally. The report calls for robust policy reforms—such as fully paid, non-transferable leave for fathers—and investments in early childhood services that actively engage men. Public campaigns and local peer support networks are also essential to shift norms and expectations. Promoting men’s caregiving is not only a matter of gender equality, it is a key strategy to ensure all children thrive from the very start.

button[src="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/694724257114b734f4bb749a/6985cfd8a00c77551ab945be_SoF%20Report%20Updated_Sept2025.pdf"][label="Download in English"]

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Published in:

2025

Organization(s):

ISSA

Language:

English

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Module 3: Nutrition for Infants and Young Children

family

child health

home visiting

parenting support

The Module 3 ‘Nutrition for Infants and Young Children’ is intended to support home visitors and other health professionals in providing advice and support to parents and families on infant and young child nutrition. It includes three modules:

Module 3a: ‘Breastfeeding’

Module 3b: ‘Introducing Complementary Foods’

Module 3c: ‘Nutrition of Children Aged 2-6 Years’

You can access the whole package here.

Download 3a. Breastfeeding

Download 3b. Introducing Complementary Foods

Download 3c. Nutrition of Children Aged 2-6 Years

button[src="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/694724257114b734f4bb749a/6985cf735eb0b715b71d6271_3a.Nutrition-BreastfeedingNEWBORN-ENG-WEB.pdf"][label="Download 3a. Breastfeeding"] button[src="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/694724257114b734f4bb749a/6985cf743139d7275e743a0a_3b.Nutrition-InfantYoungChild-ENG-WEB.pdf"][label="Download 3b. Introducing Complementary Foods"] button[src="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/694724257114b734f4bb749a/6985cf766ca73e3f96db4776_3c.Nutrition-YoungChild2-6-ENG.pdf"][label="Download 3c. Nutrition of Children Aged 2-6 Years"]

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Published in:

2025

Organization(s):

UNICEF ECARO & ISSA

Language:

English

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