In a significant move to strengthen global partnerships in child welfare, the UAE and India have explored new avenues for cooperation in early childhood development. The dialogue took place during the inaugural International Financing Summit for Early Childhood, hosted by UNICEF in New York alongside the 80th session of the UN General Assembly.

The summit brought together global leaders to mobilize resources and strategies aimed at prioritizing children’s well-being.

Al Reem Abdullah Al Falasi, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, met with Shri Anil Malik, Secretary of India’s Ministry of Women and Child Development, to discuss integrated child development models focusing on early education, nutrition, and child participation.

The meeting emphasized mutual learning, including the sharing of curricula and educational tools to enhance the quality of early education. Both sides also explored collaboration on early nutrition programs supporting breastfeeding and complementary feeding, and discussed a joint project to evaluate the impact of these interventions on child growth.

A proposal to develop a joint report on the state of childhood, serving as a model for South-South cooperation, was also considered. The two countries expressed interest in promoting child participation through child parliaments, including potential digital dialogues between the Emirati Children’s Parliament and their Indian counterparts on topics such as education, the environment, and online safety.

Al Falasi stressed, “Wise early investment in children secures the nation’s future.” She cited UAE’s progress in reducing under-five mortality to five per 1,000 live births, reaching 96% immunisation coverage, and increasing early education enrollment in Dubai by 16%.

She also pointed to the 2024 Fatima bint Mubarak Forum on Mental Health and the “I Support My Friends” program with UNICEF, noting that the national anti-bullying campaign launched in 2016 has positively impacted over 240,000 students across the UAE.