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.

Case study 

Sep 2023

A summary case study of system change in the Global South

Case study 

Sep 2023

Ilifa Labantwana: A system change case study

Case study 

Sep 2023

Key lessons for Systems Change Practitioners

Toolkit 

Jun 2023

Key lessons for Systems Change Practitioners

Working paper 

Jun 2023

The cognitive gains case for ECD

Strategy 

Jan 2023

Ilifa Labantwana Strategy 2023-2027

Policy brief 

Sep 2022

Towards universal access: A three-year acceleration plan for ECD funding

Policy brief 

Aug 2022

Priority areas for reducing stunting in South Africa -2

Working paper 

Aug 2022

Compliance, cost and user fees in the Early Childhood Care and Education Sector in South Africa

Working paper 

Aug 2022

Priority areas for reducing stunting in South Africa

Report 

Aug 2022

Thrive by Five Index 2021 Report

Report 

May 2022

ECD Census 2021 Report

Policy brief 

Mar 2022

Demand-side financing is no silver bullet for improving access to early childhood education in South Africa

Policy brief 

Nov 2021

NGOs can help government to reach the large numbers of ECD programmes in South Africa

Working paper 

Oct 2021

Supply-side and demand-side approaches to financing early childhood care and education in South Africa

Working paper 

Oct 2021

Enrolment in early childhood care and education programmes in South Africa

Working paper 

Oct 2021

Estimating the impact of five Early Childhood Development programmes against a counterfactual

Policy brief 

Sep 2021

Early Childhood Care and Education programmes in South Africa: Demand and Supply factors affecting enrolment

Policy brief 

Jun 2021

Estimating the impact of five early childhood development programmes

Report 

Jun 2021

Government should leverage NGOs to reach and support unregistered ECD sites

Policy brief 

Jun 2021

ECD COVID Response Project Summary Report

Report 

Jun 2021

ECD COVID Response Project Report

Policy brief 

Feb 2021

Reaching vulnerable young children with nutrition support

Report 

Feb 2021

Exploring the food choices ECD sites make for children

Report 

Feb 2021

ECD sites can become nutrition hubs for young children

Report 

Feb 2021

Innovative payment systems can support unregistered ECD sites

Report 

Apr 2020

The plight of the ECD workforce summary

Report 

Apr 2020

The plight of the ECD workforce

Research paper 

Aug 2019

Evidence base for early learning programmes

Research paper 

Aug 2019

Parenting for lifelong health RCT results