The first-ever Global Early Years Finance Summit
Celebrating leadership, mobilising investment and accelerating action for the youngest children
Finance mobilised | Country and City commitments | Global leaders and partners | Action through to 2030
In 2027, leaders from around the world will come together for the first-ever Global Early Years Finance Summit. Investing in the early years is one of the smartest investments a country can make laying the foundations for lifelong health, learning and opportunity, while strengthening human capital, driving economic growth, increasing workforce participation, advancing gender equality and building more resilient societies.
Taking place 2-3 June 2027, in London at the midpoint of the UK’s Presidency of the G20, the Summit will bring together Heads of Government, finance and sector ministers, mayors, development finance institutions, philanthropies, business leaders and civil society to help countries and cities accelerate progress towards their own national and local priorities by unlocking new investment in the early years.
Start Your Commitment Journey
Countries, cities and partners interested in exploring a commitment for the Summit are invited to complete the Commitment Intent Form. This signals an intention to engage in the commitment journey rather than a final commitment, and provides access to guidance, tailored support and connections with relevant partners through the Summit Secretariat Help Desk — helping turn ambition into credible, Summit-ready commitments.
What happens in the earliest years matters most
90% of brain development happens before the age of five, shaping lifelong learning, health and economic participation.
Built on a country-led model, the Summit will support national and city governments to define their own priorities, develop financing roadmaps and announce practical, measurable commitments backed by domestic resources and international partnerships.
The Summit doesn’t set the agenda—countries do.
Investing in what young children and families need most
- Universal access to quality primary health care in support of health, nutrition, wellbeing and development across pregnancy, birth, and early childhood
- Universal access to quality, inclusive preschool and early learning
- The universal support families need to care for young children, including affordable and quality childcare, child benefits, and parent and caregiver support.
Join the journey to 2027
Sign up for Summit updates, opportunities to participate and news from the global movement for early years investment.
Summit Guidance Documents
What Makes A Good Commitment: Briefing For Government Leaders: National, Provincial and City
Commitment Planning Guide: Briefing for National, Provincial and City leaders
Big Wins for Early Childhood: An Investment Guide for Ministers of Finance and Planning
Too Little, Too Late, An assessment of public spending on children by age in 84 countries.
All Means All: A call for disability-inclusive early years financing
Get in touch: [email protected]
The Journey to the Summit
Across regions, governments, young people, experts, civil society and partners are coming together to shape ambitious commitments, share solutions and build momentum towards the first-ever Global Early Years Finance Summit — and beyond.
The journey will connect global and regional moments, creating opportunities to strengthen political leadership, develop commitments and accelerate investment in young children and families.
Youth Voices: Shaping the Journey to the Summit
August 2026 – 2027 | Global Youth Consultations and Youth Vision
Young people will play a central role in shaping the journey to the first-ever Global Early Years Finance Summit and are leading consultations in their own communities, The findings from the consultations and survey will help shape a Youth Vision Statement, — ensuring young people’s voices help influence the commitments and action that emerge from the Summit.
Young people who would like to get involved in the wider consultation process can contact [email protected].
20-22 October 2026 | Indonesia
Asia-Pacific Regional Network for Early Childhood Learning Forum
The Asia-Pacific regional gathering will bring together early childhood leaders and partners from across the region to exchange experience, share solutions and strengthen momentum towards the Summit.
22–23 October 2026 | Lisbon, Portugal
Europe and Central Asia Regional Convening
A major regional convening co-hosted by ISSA, the Learning for Well-Being Institute and APEI, in partnership with the Aga Khan Foundation, OECD WISE Centre, Faculty of Human Sciences at the Catholic University of Portugal, Municipality of Lisbon and Act for Early Years.
The gathering will provide an opportunity to share learning, strengthen regional collaboration and help translate ambition for the early years into action and investment.
10–12 November 2026 | Mexico City, Mexico
Latin America Regional Convening
Co-hosted by Somos Crianza, Pacto por la Primera Infancia and Act for Early Years, this regional gathering will bring together leaders and partners to advance early childhood priorities, share promising approaches and strengthen commitments ahead of the Global Summit.
16–19 November 2026 | Manila, Philippines
Second Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children
Hosted by the Government of the Philippines, in partnership with WHO and UNICEF, the Second Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children will bring together ministers, global leaders and partners to accelerate action to end all forms of violence against children. The Conference provides an important opportunity on the journey to the Global Early Years Finance Summit 2027 — and an opportunity to work with governments and partners to turn existing pledges to the youngest children into concrete, financed commitments towards the Summit.
19–20 November 2026 | Paris, France
Global Early Childhood Care and Education Report Launch
Co-hosted by UNESCO, UNICEF and the OECD, this global moment will provide another opportunity to strengthen the evidence, partnerships and international momentum behind greater investment in early childhood.
2027 | Building Commitments and Investment
Throughout the lead-up to the Summit, governments, cities, partners and other stakeholders will work to develop and strengthen commitments, identify financing opportunities and turn early years ambitions into credible, funded plans for action.
Mid-2027 | The Global Early Years Finance Summit
The first-ever Global Early Years Finance Summit will bring the journey together — mobilising new investment, celebrating leadership and accelerating action for young children and families. Governments and partners will come together to announce commitments, showcase solutions and establish a shared pathway for delivery.
Beyond the Summit | From Commitment to Delivery
The Summit is not the end of the journey. Following the Summit, partners will support delivery planning, accountability and implementation, including national and local roadmaps, continued convening, knowledge exchange and tracking of commitments.
Towards 2030 and Beyond
The journey will continue through sustained implementation and accountability — tracking delivery, sharing progress and helping translate commitments into measurable improvements in the lives of young children and families, aligned with the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and beyond.
