Key findings of the Network Advantage Report in 2021 revealed the catalytic role and potential of the four early childhood regional networks (The Africa Early Childhood Network (AfECN), the Arab Network for Early Childhood (ANECD), the Asia-Pacific Regional Network for Early Childhood (ARNEC), and in Europe/Central Asia, the International Step by Step Association (ISSA)). These networks are critical to connect and empower the organizations at the grassroots level working to make quality early childhood services a reality for every child.
 
With this in mind, and drawing from those findings, today a group of internationally known donor agencies are launching the Early Childhood Regional Networks Fund to strengthen coordination and partnerships among the regional networks, so that they can respond to the needs of their members and the wider sector in their respective continent.
 
This dedicated fund aims to enable the regional networks to continue their work and effectively serve children and their families all over the globe, especially in times of crisis, as is the case now in the context of the war in Ukraine and other emergencies.

The Fund has been established by the Oak Foundation, the Open Society Foundations and Porticus.  In the process of joining are The Human Safety Net and The Two Lilies Fund. The fund is open to other interested donors. As long-term supporters of networks in the early childhood sector, these foundations recognized that there is greater efficiency and potential impact to be achieved by bringing their resources together through a donor collaborative fund, hosted by Swiss Philanthropy Foundation. The Fund is currently recruiting to fill the position of Fund Director.