This webinar, presented by Dr Gabrielle Wills from RESEP at Stellenbosch University and Dr Grace Leach from DG Murray Trust, provides an in-depth analysis of South Africa’s early childhood development (ECD) workforce, focusing on current capacity and future requirements to meet universal access goals. It highlights the critical role of human resources in delivering quality ECD services and identifies significant gaps in practitioner numbers, qualifications, and distribution across provinces. Using population-based planning, the presenters project workforce needs under different policy scenarios and model the implications for training systems and funding.