James Cairns
James Cairns is Senior Director for Strategic Engagements and Organizational Learning at the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University. He joined the Center in 2008 to lead the development of its international work.
Dr. Ivelina Borisova
Dr. Ivelina Borisova from Bulgaria is UNICEF’s Early Childhood Development Advisor (ECD) for the ECA Region. She leads the regional strategy and program priorities on early childhood development and early care and education across the region. Prior to this, Ms.
Hirokazu Yoshikawa, PhD
Hirokazu Yoshikawa, PhD is the Courtney Sale Ross Professor of Globalization and Education at NYU Steinhardt and a University Professor at NYU. From 2014 to 2024 he was a founding co-director of the Global TIES for Children center at NYU. He is a community and developmental psychologist who conducts research-policy and research-practice partnerships related to immigration, early childhood, youth development, and poverty reduction across the lifespan.
Professor Hasina Banu Ebrahim,
Professor Hasina Banu Ebrahim, UNESCO Co-Chair in Early Childhood Education at UNISA, is an NRF C1-rated researcher who is prolific in research on policy, practice and workforce development for birth to 5 years. She is a newly elected member of the Academy of Science of South Africa.
Emily Vargas Barón, PhD,
Emily Vargas Barón, PhD, directs the RISE Institute, a non-governmental organisation and global authority in early childhood development (ECD) and family-centred early childhood intervention (ECI) for children with developmental challenges. With her highly experienced teams of Senior Fellows, she focuses on national policy planning, financing, training, research, and monitoring, evaluation and reporting.
Dominic Richardson, Ph D
Dominic Richardson, Ph D is the Managing Director of the Learning for Well-being Institute.
Supporting Families for Nurturing Care: A New UNICEF–ISSA Resource Strengthening Home Visiting Practices
Date: 29-10-2025
Developed jointly by UNICEF ECARO and the International Step by Step Association (ISSA), the Supporting Families for Nurturing Care: Training Resource Package for Home Visiting Practices is now available on UNICEF’s website.
When Systems Are Ready, Children Are Safer: An Invitation to Explore ISSA's Compendium on ECD in Emergencies
Title: When Systems Are Ready, Children Are Safer: An Invitation to Explore ISSA's Compendium on ECD in Emergencies Date: Wednesday, November 26, 2025 - 14:00 End date: Wednesday, November 26, 2025 - 16:00 Location: Zoom Register before: Wednesday, November 26, 2025 - 13:45 Organised by: ISSA
In recent years, ISSA members have responded to overlapping crises — from pandemics and displacement to natural disasters and armed conflicts — that have severely impacted young children and families. These experiences underscored a key insight: while individual interventions like psychosocial support or educator training are essential, true resilience requires system-level preparedness.
Webinar: Take a picture of me! – The potential of photography in early education
Title: Webinar: Take a picture of me! – The potential of photography in early education Date: Wednesday, July 30, 2025 - 12:30 End date: Wednesday, July 30, 2025 - 14:30 Location: Zoom Register before: Wednesday, July 30, 2025 - 12:20 Organised by: Trust For Social Achievement, REYN Bulgaria
Photographs are valuable tools in early childhood education. They support children’s learning, development, and sense of belonging, as well as enhancing parental engagement.
Future-proofing child and adolescent health in Europe and Central Asia webinar 3: Implementation challenges and approaches
Title: Future-proofing child and adolescent health in Europe and Central Asia webinar 3: Implementation challenges and approaches Date: Tuesday, September 16, 2025 - 10:00 End date: Tuesday, September 16, 2025 - 11:30 Location: Zoom Register before: Tuesday, September 16, 2025 - 09:45 Organised by: Health Systems for Early Child Development: UNICEF ECARO, WHO/Europe, ISSA
More information to come.
🔗 Register here.