In a world increasingly impacted by crises, the importance of addressing early childhood development (ECD) in these challenging contexts is paramount. ECD Regional Networks provide the necessary social, organizational and knowledge infrastructure to effectively link on-the-ground realities with local and regional expertise.

Over the last two years, the war in Ukraine has highlighted a significant issue: despite a large mobilization of resources, it is challenging to provide immediate, well-informed, and appropriate responses. Given its adaptive nature, expansive connections, and deep knowledge of Europe and Central Asia, the ISSA Network has been able to move quickly to successfully address the needs of children, families, ECD professionals and communities impacted by the war in Ukraine.

Five Pillars of Action

The Network's ability to rapidly mobilize resources and expertise highlights its unique position in addressing ECD issues in crisis situations. Drawing on five streams of action, the brief ISSA Network Advantage: Prioritizing young children’s development in emergencies outlines the Network’s strategic response to the war in Ukraine:

1. Strengthen the capacity of early childhood practitioners to provide psychosocial support to children and their caregivers
   • War Child Holland, ISSA Member Amna, and ISSA developed and executed the ‘Foundational Training on Psychological First Aid and trauma-informed practices with young children and their caregivers’ together with the UNICEF Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia (ECARO) and the Minderoo Foundation
     • 190 master trainers were trained since the war started
     • 400 ECD professionals in Hungary and Ukraine were trained in 2023
   • Cross-country learning exchanges and coaching sessions
2. Empower Members to build capacity at the municipality level and support a strategic response in the short and medium-term
   • ISSA Members from Ukraine, Hungary, Slovakia, and Poland became licensed in Primokiz—an approach focused on supporting local governments in developing early childhood strategies which are inter-sectoral, comprehensive, inclusive, and responsive to the needs of the communities they serve.
   • Nine municipalities in Hungary, two in Slovakia, one in Ukraine began their work in the approach
   • Non-formal services have been created in Poland under the name of Spynkas (known in Romania as PrimoHubs, and in Hungary and Slovakia as Play Hubs).
3. Ensure inclusion, respect for diversity and equity in early childhood policies and practices
   • Embracing Diversity training in Warsaw was provided to 27 ISSA Members from 13 countries.
   • ISSA Member in Ukraine, the Blaho Foundation, converted its early learning center for Roma children into the ‘Station of Hope’ shelter and purchased a premise to become a local Center for children and families in Uzhgorod.
   • Advocating for the prioritization of early childhood on the emergency response agenda through the First Years, First Priority Campaign which ISSA co-leads.
4. Facilitate and sustain a learning community of professionals across countries
   • The network has created a cross-country learning community with regular per-learning exchanges among Members involved in the Ukraine Response, thematic webinars, and ‘ISSA Connects for Ukraine’ events.
5. Support the long-term reconstruction efforts in Ukraine
   • Equip grass-roots member organizations in Ukraine in the reconstruction of the early childhood system.

Learn more in detail how ISSA utilizes its network advantage to orchestrate coordinated responses in Europe and Central Asia, ensuring the well-being of children and families.

The work detailed in this article was accomplished through partnerships with War Child Holland, ISSA Member, Amna Refugee Healing Network (Amna), and the UNICEF Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia (ECARO), and with the support of Minderoo Foundation.