‘WED Forum’ inspires knowledge exchange and collaboration to drive ECD agenda

ABU DHABI, 1st November, 2024 (WAM) — The second World Early Childhood Development (WED) Forum, and the ECD Research Convening concluded yesterday at Erth Hotel, Abu Dhabi, as part of the Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Week events.

The week’s activities will continue until 2nd November, with the second edition of The Early Childhood Development Fair, as well as a series of city-wide activations led by key partners.

During the opening address on the final day of the WED Forum, Sana Mohammad Suhail, Director General of Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority (ECA), welcomed attendees. “As many of you here know, the first 1,000 days of life are crucial. It lays the groundwork for a child to reach their full potential. Effective early childhood development (ECD) can help reduce inequality, improve health outcomes, and equip individuals with greater cognitive and emotional abilities and overall well-being. There is a pressing global need to prioritize and innovate in this field.”

She discussed the importance of planning and designing cities from a child’s perspective, as well as promoting healthy behaviours and development through play, and reaffirmed that cross-sector collaboration and private sector engagement are vital to achieving ECA’s vision.

She also reflected on the remarkable strides made over the past five years since ECD became a key focus in Abu Dhabi, noting the increased emphasis on flexible work and parental leave, with 17 workplaces earning the Parent-friendly Label (a number which continues to grow), the establishment of the National Academy for Childhood Development to elevate caregiving standards, improved child protection, and the launch of the 2024 ECD Megatrends Report with key recommendations.

In addition, she highlighted the launch of two new pilots: Majlisna, an intergenerational social space inspired by the Emirati Majlis, transforming public areas into family-friendly social hubs, and Hikayatna, which fosters connections across generations through storytelling.

Throughout the two days, the WED Forum has served as a platform for global policymakers, experts, practitioners, and stakeholders from across sectors to share knowledge and exchange ideas in the field of ECD. A series of sessions led by more than 60 experts have covered pressing topics within the key themes of intentional parenting, culture and identity, and sustainable and family-friendly cities.

Abdullah Al Humaidan, Secretary-General of the Zayed Higher Organisation for People of Determination (ZHO), joined the panel ‘Thriving Together: Collaborative Approaches to Children of Determination Parenting’ which explored innovative strategies for supporting families with neurodiverse children. He emphasised the importance of collaboration to meet their unique needs and promote inclusivity.

Daisy Dowling, Founder and CEO of Workparent, said, “Twenty years ago, smartphones weren’t connecting us to work 24/7. Work hours have increased, and more households have two working parents, introducing dynamics for which we weren’t prepared. Even if an organisation offers parental leave policies, it’s the everyday practices – preparing for parental leave, communicating support – that truly make a difference.”

David G. Hunter, Harvard Medical School – Vice Chair of Promotions and Reappointments at Department of Ophthalmology, and Ophthalmologist-in-Chief at Boston Children’s Hospital, addressed new ways of seeing childhood eye development. He said, “Early detection is crucial; by catching vision problems when children are young, we can offer them a clearer, brighter future. Our mission is simple: to give every child the chance to see the world at its best and live life to its fullest, without being limited by their vision.”

Cindy Hovington, PhD, Founder of Curious Neuron, presented a masterclass on the emotional development of children in their first five years. She said, “In helping children regulate emotions, we’re teaching them to feel safe in expressing themselves. They’re learning to understand their own needs and responses, an important foundation for resilience and connection.”