by Lesley O’Connell I love going on field visits. It is by far one of my favorite activities as an IDB sector specialist, because it reminds me of the reality of our countries and what our programs are trying to achieve. One thing that has impressed me from my field visits in Ecuador is that in almost every remote corner I have visited there has been an early childcare … [Read more...] about Reinventing Childcare Centers in Ecuador
Breastfeeding… a luxury?
by Vannie Arrocha Morán Which country has the shortest duration of breastfeeding? Last year, the Pan American Health Organization and the World Health Organization compared the average duration (Spanish) of breastfeeding in 21 countries throughout the region. This average represents the sum of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) and partial breastfeeding (which includes other … [Read more...] about Breastfeeding… a luxury?
Why Is This the IDB’s Most-Read Blog?
The answer to the question posed in the title mostly lies in the fact that you, our readers, recognize the importance of the early years of life in the proper development of children in Latin America and the Caribbean, thus making it possible for the region to grow with equity and productivity. Because you have opinions and comments that other readers value and enjoy sharing. … [Read more...] about Why Is This the IDB’s Most-Read Blog?
Looking East
A few days ago a good friend shared with me an article from the BBC about Chinese boarding kindergartens for 3, 4 and 5 year olds. These are preschools where children actually study, play, eat and live from Monday to Friday. They go back home with their parents on the weekends. According to the article, thousands of young children in the large cities of China attend boarding … [Read more...] about Looking East
Lessons from Niger
by Patrick Premand Policy discussions about early childhood development (ECD) in Latin America often raise the question of how to “go to scale.” In Africa, many policymakers also wonder how to scale-up, although the challenges tend to be even bigger. … [Read more...] about Lessons from Niger