South African Early
Childhood Review

The South African (SA) Early Childhood Review is a regular publication that presents information on the essential components of the comprehensive package of early childhood development services. The review includes data and commentary on over 50 carefully selected indicators on the status of children under six, as well as service delivery progress across five domains: primary level maternal and child health, nutrition support, support for primary caregivers, social services and income support, and stimulation for early learning.

The SA Early Childhood Review is a joint publication between Ilifa Labantwana, the Children’s Institute at the University of Cape Town, the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation in the Presidency, the Department of Basic Education, the Grow Great Campaign, and DataDrive2030.

Reports And Insights

South African Early Childhood Review 2024

The South African Early Childhood Review is a regular publication that presents information on the essential components of the comprehensive package of early childhood development (ECD) services. It includes data and commentary on the status of children under the age of 6, and service delivery progress across 5 domains: (1) primary-level maternal and child health, (2) nutrition, (3) support for primary caregivers, (4) income support and social services, and (5) stimulation for early learning.

The Review is a collaboration between Ilifa Labantwana, the Children’s Institute at the University of Cape Town, DataDrive2030, the Grow Great Campaign, the Department for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation in the Presidency, and the Department of Basic Education.

Advocacy 

Mar 2025

Bana Pele to Global Leadership: South Africa’s Opportunity to Champion the Early Years

Video 

Feb 2025

Early childhood development in South Africa: Current and future workforce requirements webinar

Research paper 

Dec 2024

Childcare and early childhood development expenditures in Africa

Video 

Nov 2024

A triple-cocktail approach for closing the ECD gap: Evaluation of the Yizani Sifunde project

Presentation

Nov 2024

A triple-cocktail approach for closing the ECD gap

Video 

Oct 2024

Post-COVID early childhood care and education enrolment gaps in South Africa -2

Working paper 

Oct 2024

Early childhood care and education and jobs for women

Video 

Sep 2024

Measuring stunting and tracking trends in prevalence webinar

Policy brief 

Aug 2024

Measuring stunting and tracking trends in prevalence -2

Working paper 

Aug 2024

Measuring stunting and tracking trends in prevalence

Video 

Aug 2024

Promoting early childhood development through multi-dimensional service delivery in South Africa webinar

Policy brief 

Jul 2024

Post-COVID early childhood care and education enrolment gaps in South Africa Policy Brief

Presentation

Jul 2024

South African Early Childhood Review 2024: children under 6

Annual report 

Jul 2024

Annual Report 2024

Working paper 

Jul 2024

Post-COVID early childhood care and education enrolment gaps in South Africa

Report 

Jul 2024

South African Early Childhood Review 2024

Report 

Jul 2024

Early childhood development in South Africa: Current and future workforce requirements

Presentation

Jul 2024

South African Early Childhood Review 2024: early learning

Presentation

Jul 2024

South African Early Childhood Review 2024: social services and income support

Presentation

Jul 2024

South African Early Childhood Review 2024: support for primary caregivers

Presentation

Jul 2024

South African Early Childhood Review 2024: nutrition

Presentation

Jul 2024

South African Early Childhood Review 2024: maternal and child health

Presentation

Jul 2024

South African Early Childhood Review 2024: introduction

Video 

Jun 2024

Preschoolers’ motor, cognitive, and social-emotional functioning in South Africa webinar

Working paper 

May 2024

Cost, compliance and user fees in the early childhood care and education sector in South Africa [Updated data version]

Research paper 

May 2024

Preschoolers’ motor, cognitive, and social-emotional functioning in South Africa

Working paper 

Mar 2024

Promoting early childhood development through multi-dimensional service delivery in South Africa

Strategy 

Jan 2024

South Africa’s 2030 Strategy for Early Childhood Development Programmes

Infographic 

Sep 2023

The Ilifa Labantwana Story of Change Summary

Annual report 

Sep 2023

Annual Report 2023