Scaling early childhood development programmes and policies in low- and middle-income countries

Thrive, on behalf of Oxford Policy Management (OPM) and the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS), is hosting a two-day international interdisciplinary conference bringing together leading experts to discuss the latest early childhood development research on how to successfully scale early childhood development (ECD) programmes and policies in low-and middle -income (LMIC) countries.

ECD is a major focus of research and experimentation, but there are gaps in our knowledge about how to take successful approaches from pilot to scale, how to most effectively bring together the multiple sectors and key services necessary for success, and how to ensure long-term quality.

At the Thrive scientific conference leading academics will discuss what we know and what we don’t know about scaling ECD in LMICs, with presentations of the latest research from Thrive’s five focus countries (Ghana, Tanzania, Bangladesh, Sierra Leone and Kiribati) and other LMIC settings. 

Conference focus

The conference will be shaped around four themes:

1. What works?

Evidence on the process of ECD in LMIC settings, and on innovative approaches with potential for scale.

2. Implementing at scale

Evidence on the implementation of interventions at scale and the successful transition of programmes to scale.

3. Ensuring scaling is equitable and inclusive

Evidence on ensuring gender equity, access for marginalised and disadvantaged groups, caregiver empowerment and father engagement.

4. Measurement and assessment at scale

Innovation in measures of ECD and validation of existing measures in new settings.

Organising Committee

Conference Chair

Sonya Krutikova (University of Manchester and Institute for Fiscal Studies, UK)

Committee members

Ingvild Almas (IIES/Stockholm University, Sweden and FAIR/Norwegian School of Economics, Norway)

Jophus Anamuah-Mensah (University of Education, Winneba, Ghana)

Bet Caeyers (Chr. Michelsen Institute and FAIR/Norwegian School of Economics, Norway)

Imran Rasul (University College London and Institute for Fiscal Studies, UK)

Susan Walker (The University of West Indies, Jamaica)