Science has shown the critical importance of the early years, starting from pregnancy, for early childhood development. To grow and develop optimally, children need to receive nurturing care. This means that they enjoy adequate nutrition and good health, feel safe and secure, and have opportunities for learning starting from birth.

The Nurturing Care Framework is a roadmap for action, to help children survive and thrive to transform health and human potential. WHO’s Child Health and Development Unit develops guidelines and implementation tools to support the nurturing care agenda. It also works with governments to strengthen policies and services so that they deliver essential interventions with quality and equity, and support caregivers to provide nurturing care. And it is an active contributor to the Nurturing Care Partnership that facilitates the exchange of information, experiences and lessons learnt.

In 2020, WHO issued the first guideline that was specifically related to early childhood development. The guideline provides global, evidence-informed recommendations on improving early childhood development through interventions that support responsive caregiving and early learning. Evidence shows that early childhood development is an outcome of healthy, nurturing interactions between caregivers and children, and as such, the guideline focuses on the needs of both the caregivers and young children.

The guideline, intended for a wide range of stakeholders, also recommends integrating caregiving and nutrition interventions and supporting mental health.