Early childhood development (ECD) refers to the physical, cognitive, emotional and social development of children from birth to age five. This period is critical, as it shapes how children learn, behave and succeed later in life.
However, only 43% of children aged 0-5 are enrolled in an Early Learning Programme (ELP), and only 42% of those children are developmentally on track for early learning, according to the Thrive By Five Index.
Recognising the importance of the early years, the Department of Basic Education (DBE) has identified five strategic priorities in South Africa’s 2030 Strategy for Early Childhood Development Programmes: universal access to age-appropriate early learning programmes (ELPs), improved coordination, sufficient funding with resources targeted more effectively, a capable ECD workforce, and enhanced programme quality.
Below are five core strategies through which companies can make a meaningful contribution to ECD, followed by additional practical avenues of support that strengthen the system as a whole.
Five core strategies for investing in ECD
1. Support ECD registration and compliance at scale
Thousands of ECD centres remain unregistered, preventing them from accessing government subsidies and other support. The Department of Basic Education’s Bana Pele ECD Registration Drive explicitly calls for non-financial support, including administrative, digital and compliance assistance.
Companies can play an important role by funding registration support teams or ‘compliance coaches’, providing pro bono legal, human resources, health and safety or administrative assistance, and supporting site visits, audits and minor compliance upgrades. Registration is a critical gateway to sustainability, as only registered ECD programmes can access ongoing public funding and support.
2. Support quality early learning environments
Access alone is not enough to improve outcomes. The quality of early learning environments plays a decisive role in children’s development. Yet, many ECD centres face challenges related to inadequate infrastructure, limited learning materials, and difficulty meeting health, safety and regulatory standards.
Companies can support quality improvement by upgrading facilities, providing age-appropriate learning resources, assisting centres in meeting compliance requirements, or adopting an ECD centre for at least three years. Improving quality not only enhances children’s learning experiences but can also help ECD programmes access government subsidies and strengthen their long-term sustainability.
3. Help to build a capable ECD workforce
ECD practitioners are central to delivering quality early learning, but many have limited access to accredited training, ongoing professional development and clear career pathways.
Companies can invest in practitioner training and capacity‑building initiatives that strengthen teaching practice, improve centre management and governance, and support the professionalisation of the sector. A skilled and supported workforce is essential for improving developmental outcomes at scale.
4. Improve nutrition at ECD centres
Nutrition is a critical enabler of early childhood development. The Do More Foundation has provided practical guidelines to support nutrition at ECD centres, particularly in under-resourced settings.
These include partnering with government-funded nutrition programmes to help unregistered centres meet Department of Health guidelines; training support staff in buying, storing, preparing, and serving food; upgrading cooking facilities; establishing sustainable food gardens; and partnering with other stakeholders to enable bulk food purchases. Improving nutrition supports children’s physical development and their ability to learn and engage.
5. Support parents and caregivers
Parents and caregivers play a vital role in supporting early learning, language development and emotional wellbeing. Investment opportunities include parenting support programmes, caregiver education initiatives, and community-based interventions that promote nurturing care and early stimulation.
Supporting families reinforces the impact of centre-based ECD interventions and extends benefits beyond the classroom into the home environment.
Additional practical avenues of corporate support
In addition to the core strategies above, companies can strengthen the ECD ecosystem through several complementary interventions.
These include supporting ECD centre governance and financial sustainability, as many centres fail not because of pedagogy but because of weak governance, poor financial management, or inadequate planning. Board training, financial management systems and business skills development can help centres plan for long‑term viability beyond donor funding.
Companies can also invest in ECD data, monitoring and evidence systems. While South Africa has valuable benchmarking tools such as the Thrive by Five Index, data collection and use remain under-resourced. Supporting data collection, digital tools, connectivity and sector capacity to use evidence can help improve outcomes and accountability.
Further opportunities include supporting health, screening, and integrated services, such as developmental screening for vision, hearing, and delays, and strengthening referral pathways between ECD centres, health services, and social support systems.
Supporting transport and safe access to ECD services is another practical yet often overlooked intervention. Distance and safety concerns limit attendance for many children, and companies can support transport solutions, safe walking routes or partnerships with local transport providers.
Finally, companies can participate in pooled funding, blended finance or outcomes-based funding mechanisms, helping to de-risk early-stage ECD investment and support scale rather than isolated pilots. These approaches align public, private and philanthropic resources to support sustainable, system-level impact.
Turning ECD investment into lasting impact
Companies can make a meaningful contribution to early childhood development by funding ECD programmes, supporting registration and compliance, investing in quality, workforce development and nutrition, and partnering with government and civil society organisations. Collaboration and long-term commitment are particularly important in a sector that requires sustained investment to achieve systemic change.
By aligning ECD investments with evidence-based approaches and national priorities, companies can help build strong foundations for learning and development – and contribute to lasting social and economic impact.
