What we are reading...

This article about how global alcohol companies are pivoting from shrinking markets in Europe and North America to pursue growth in African and other emerging markets. It discusses concerns that this strategic shift could increase alcohol availability, influence and related health harms in Africa.

This article about how global alcohol companies are pivoting from shrinking markets in Europe and North America to pursue growth in African and other emerging markets. It discusses concerns that this strategic shift could increase alcohol availability, influence and related health harms in Africa.

This article explains how strengthening South Africa’s alcohol excise tax structure can reduce alcohol‑related harm. It argues that increasing taxes above inflation and using narrower, alcohol‑content‑based tiers can raise prices, cut consumption, and encourage lower‑strength products, ultimately lowering deaths, injuries and healthcare costs.

This article explains how strengthening South Africa’s alcohol excise tax structure can reduce alcohol‑related harm. It argues that increasing taxes above inflation and using narrower, alcohol‑content‑based tiers can raise prices, cut consumption, and encourage lower‑strength products, ultimately lowering deaths, injuries and healthcare costs.

A discussion on Angola’s pilot Universal Child Benefit called Valor Criança, designed to give regular unconditional cash support to families with young children. It highlights how the programme improved nutrition, health access, empowerment and household well-being, and argues that universal child benefits could be a transformative, affordable part of social security across sub-Saharan Africa.

A discussion on Angola’s pilot Universal Child Benefit called Valor Criança, designed to give regular unconditional cash support to families with young children. It highlights how the programme improved nutrition, health access, empowerment and household well-being, and argues that universal child benefits could be a transformative, affordable part of social security across sub-Saharan Africa.

The Childcare Systems Map is a visual tool that illustrates the current dynamics that influence the provision of and access to quality childcare.

The Childcare Systems Map is a visual tool that illustrates the current dynamics that influence the provision of and access to quality childcare.

This presentation during the State of the Nation Address saw President Cyril Ramaphosa highlight closing the food gap, stimulating language and learning in very young children, and protecting children and teens by reducing heavy drinking. The government aims to end child stunting by 2030 through targeted nutrition and continued social grants, expand early childhood development and literacy foundations, and curb alcohol harm via stricter regulation, pricing, and advertising limits

This presentation during the State of the Nation Address saw President Cyril Ramaphosa highlight closing the food gap, stimulating language and learning in very young children, and protecting children and teens by reducing heavy drinking. The government aims to end child stunting by 2030 through targeted nutrition and continued social grants, expand early childhood development and literacy foundations, and curb alcohol harm via stricter regulation, pricing, and advertising limits

Early Childhood Matters is a global storytelling platform connecting voices and ideas that advance collective thinking on early childhood development. It aims to ignite conversations and widen perspectives on what we can do to ensure a good start for all babies, toddlers and their caregivers.

Early Childhood Matters is a global storytelling platform connecting voices and ideas that advance collective thinking on early childhood development. It aims to ignite conversations and widen perspectives on what we can do to ensure a good start for all babies, toddlers and their caregivers.

This is a reflection on monitoring systems for parenting programmes during dissemination and scale-up, highlighting practical challenges and lessons learned. The paper discusses how implementation context, data quality, and adaptation affect monitoring effectiveness, emphasising the need for sustainable, coordinated approaches to ensure programme fidelity, learning, and impact at scale.

This is a reflection on monitoring systems for parenting programmes during dissemination and scale-up, highlighting practical challenges and lessons learned. The paper discusses how implementation context, data quality, and adaptation affect monitoring effectiveness, emphasising the need for sustainable, coordinated approaches to ensure programme fidelity, learning, and impact at scale.

This article explains that teenagers thrive when parents listen, empathize, and provide emotional safety rather than immediately solving problems. Teens need support, understanding, and guidance while developing independence, and benefit from knowing a trusted adult is present to help manage stress without judgment.

This article explains that teenagers thrive when parents listen, empathize, and provide emotional safety rather than immediately solving problems. Teens need support, understanding, and guidance while developing independence, and benefit from knowing a trusted adult is present to help manage stress without judgment.

This scoping review synthesizes global evidence on responsive caregiving examining caregiver, child, and contextual factors that influence caregiver responsiveness and how it relates to children’s neurodevelopment and mental health. It highlights significant gaps in research from the Global South and stresses that socio‑cultural contexts should inform inclusive interventions to strengthen caregiving and promote early child development.

This scoping review synthesizes global evidence on responsive caregiving examining caregiver, child, and contextual factors that influence caregiver responsiveness and how it relates to children’s neurodevelopment and mental health. It highlights significant gaps in research from the Global South and stresses that socio‑cultural contexts should inform inclusive interventions to strengthen caregiving and promote early child development.

This article explores caregivers’ lived experiences with early childhood care and education in Kenya and Uganda. The study critiques dominant, universal ECCE policies and argues that culturally responsive, context‑sensitive programmes that recognise indigenous knowledge and informal community systems are essential for meaningful ECCE provision.

This article explores caregivers’ lived experiences with early childhood care and education in Kenya and Uganda. The study critiques dominant, universal ECCE policies and argues that culturally responsive, context‑sensitive programmes that recognise indigenous knowledge and informal community systems are essential for meaningful ECCE provision.

This dashboard is a Cabinet‑approved platform by the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) that provides interactive, data‑driven insights into key indicators about children in South Africa. It allows viewing statistics on children’s demographics, wellbeing, service access, and outcomes at national, provincial and district levels to support evidence‑based planning, monitoring and decision‑making for child‑centred policy and programmes.

This dashboard is a Cabinet‑approved platform by the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) that provides interactive, data‑driven insights into key indicators about children in South Africa. It allows viewing statistics on children’s demographics, wellbeing, service access, and outcomes at national, provincial and district levels to support evidence‑based planning, monitoring and decision‑making for child‑centred policy and programmes.

This report highlights South Africa’s ongoing school dropout crisis, showing that up to 4 in 10 learners leave before Grade 12. It argues that school dropout is driven by cumulative psychosocial issues like poverty, violence, poor mental health, hunger, weak support and unsafe environments, and stresses embedding psychosocial support into schooling to keep learners engaged and improve retention.

This report highlights South Africa’s ongoing school dropout crisis, showing that up to 4 in 10 learners leave before Grade 12. It argues that school dropout is driven by cumulative psychosocial issues like poverty, violence, poor mental health, hunger, weak support and unsafe environments, and stresses embedding psychosocial support into schooling to keep learners engaged and improve retention.

This report presents evidence that food insecurity in South Africa is high, persistent and structural. It shows rising food insecurity from 2019–2023, with many households including those with children worried about food, skipping meals, or going without food. Rising food prices, unemployment and inadequate safety nets drive hardship. The report calls for targeted, child‑focused nutrition and food support policies.

This report presents evidence that food insecurity in South Africa is high, persistent and structural. It shows rising food insecurity from 2019–2023, with many households including those with children worried about food, skipping meals, or going without food. Rising food prices, unemployment and inadequate safety nets drive hardship. The report calls for targeted, child‑focused nutrition and food support policies.

This study explores how stunting is measured and monitored in South Africa, focusing on conceptual and methodological challenges that influence prevalence estimates. It highlights inconsistencies in data collection, sampling, and age definitions across surveys, which affect comparability. The authors recommend improved standardisation and stronger surveillance systems to enhance accuracy in tracking child stunting trends and informing policy decisions

This study explores how stunting is measured and monitored in South Africa, focusing on conceptual and methodological challenges that influence prevalence estimates. It highlights inconsistencies in data collection, sampling, and age definitions across surveys, which affect comparability. The authors recommend improved standardisation and stronger surveillance systems to enhance accuracy in tracking child stunting trends and informing policy decisions

This research article analyses how parental death versus parental absence impacts child stunting and hunger, using regional data to distinguish their effects on child nutritional outcomes. It explores the added disadvantage faced by children who lose parents or live apart from them and the implications for targeting nutrition and social support policies.

This research article analyses how parental death versus parental absence impacts child stunting and hunger, using regional data to distinguish their effects on child nutritional outcomes. It explores the added disadvantage faced by children who lose parents or live apart from them and the implications for targeting nutrition and social support policies.

This is a South African research article identifying priority interventions to reduce stunting among children in the complementary feeding period (around 6–24 months). It reviews evidence and suggests targeted nutrition, health, care and community strategies to improve dietary quality, feeding practices and growth outcomes in early childhood

This is a South African research article identifying priority interventions to reduce stunting among children in the complementary feeding period (around 6–24 months). It reviews evidence and suggests targeted nutrition, health, care and community strategies to improve dietary quality, feeding practices and growth outcomes in early childhood

This policy update summarises a World Health Organization (WHO) global report on alcohol taxation showing taxes on alcoholic drinks are widely applied but too low, poorly designed and often not adjusted for inflation, keeping alcohol affordable and harm high. WHO urges governments to raise and redesign excise taxes on all alcoholic beverages to reduce consumption, improve public health, advance equity and increase government revenue.

This policy update summarises a World Health Organization (WHO) global report on alcohol taxation showing taxes on alcoholic drinks are widely applied but too low, poorly designed and often not adjusted for inflation, keeping alcohol affordable and harm high. WHO urges governments to raise and redesign excise taxes on all alcoholic beverages to reduce consumption, improve public health, advance equity and increase government revenue.

This global assessment found that while most countries tax alcoholic beverages, the excise taxes are often too low, poorly structured, and not regularly updated, keeping alcohol affordable and undermining health gains. It recommends raising and redesigning taxes on all alcohol types to reduce consumption, protect health, and boost government revenue.

This global assessment found that while most countries tax alcoholic beverages, the excise taxes are often too low, poorly structured, and not regularly updated, keeping alcohol affordable and undermining health gains. It recommends raising and redesigning taxes on all alcohol types to reduce consumption, protect health, and boost government revenue.

Birth to three caregiver support programmes help to lay critical foundations for young children's brain development and lifelong learning. There is an urgent need to increase the reach of programmes and initiatives to support caregivers, but in order to develop a clear picture of what needs to be scaled and what to prioritise in a resource-constrained context, it is vital to build on and learn from work already being done by civil society. This dashboard is a summary of data shared by organisations in a survey conducted mid-2025.

Birth to three caregiver support programmes help to lay critical foundations for young children's brain development and lifelong learning. There is an urgent need to increase the reach of programmes and initiatives to support caregivers, but in order to develop a clear picture of what needs to be scaled and what to prioritise in a resource-constrained context, it is vital to build on and learn from work already being done by civil society. This dashboard is a summary of data shared by organisations in a survey conducted mid-2025.

A 2025 workshop convened around measurement of early learning from birth to the age of three years recommended concrete next steps including: a situational analysis of the birth to three measurement landscape; a brief highlighting the gaps in data and the implications of this to create demand; a list of tools to measure birth to three child outcomes; a national repository of tools; a central, standardised indicator reference sheet and guide; and an investigation of how established global tools have been used effectively, and how elements of these may translate into South Africa’s needs and context. This discussion paper serves to address some of these gaps and recommendations.

A 2025 workshop convened around measurement of early learning from birth to the age of three years recommended concrete next steps including: a situational analysis of the birth to three measurement landscape; a brief highlighting the gaps in data and the implications of this to create demand; a list of tools to measure birth to three child outcomes; a national repository of tools; a central, standardised indicator reference sheet and guide; and an investigation of how established global tools have been used effectively, and how elements of these may translate into South Africa’s needs and context. This discussion paper serves to address some of these gaps and recommendations.

This peer‑reviewed study examines dietary intake and nutrient status among pregnant women in the Free State Province of South Africa, exploring how household food insecurity affects key nutrient consumption. It identifies widespread shortfalls in essential nutrients (protein, fibre, vitamins C, D, E, K and others), emphasises the role of supplements, and highlights implications for maternal and fetal health, suggesting that nutrition education, food fortification, supplementation and poverty‑alleviation strategies are crucial.

This peer‑reviewed study examines dietary intake and nutrient status among pregnant women in the Free State Province of South Africa, exploring how household food insecurity affects key nutrient consumption. It identifies widespread shortfalls in essential nutrients (protein, fibre, vitamins C, D, E, K and others), emphasises the role of supplements, and highlights implications for maternal and fetal health, suggesting that nutrition education, food fortification, supplementation and poverty‑alleviation strategies are crucial.

This review examines how cost influences access and sustainability of early intervention (EI) services for deaf and hard‑of‑hearing children across Africa. High out‑of‑pocket expenses, limited public funding, fragmented financing, and inequitable access to hearing technologies hinder service uptake. The paper advocates integrating economic evidence into policy, expanding public financing, pooled procurement, and culturally responsive, community‑based models to improve equity and long‑term outcomes.

This review examines how cost influences access and sustainability of early intervention (EI) services for deaf and hard‑of‑hearing children across Africa. High out‑of‑pocket expenses, limited public funding, fragmented financing, and inequitable access to hearing technologies hinder service uptake. The paper advocates integrating economic evidence into policy, expanding public financing, pooled procurement, and culturally responsive, community‑based models to improve equity and long‑term outcomes.

This is a media statement outlining that the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) will convene a National Investigative Hearing into South Africa’s food systems during Human Rights Month in March 2026. The hearing will examine persistent hunger, malnutrition, and food insecurity despite the country’s food production capacity.

This is a media statement outlining that the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) will convene a National Investigative Hearing into South Africa’s food systems during Human Rights Month in March 2026. The hearing will examine persistent hunger, malnutrition, and food insecurity despite the country’s food production capacity.

This statement announces Cabinet’s approval of the National Strategy to Accelerate Action for Children (NSAAC), aimed at improving the welfare and development of children and adolescents nationwide. The strategy prioritises closing the food gap, promoting early language and learning, reducing substance abuse, ensuring timely screening and referral for hearing and visual disabilities, and strengthening children’s identity and agency. It emphasises collaboration and shared responsibility to ensure every child can thrive.

This statement announces Cabinet’s approval of the National Strategy to Accelerate Action for Children (NSAAC), aimed at improving the welfare and development of children and adolescents nationwide. The strategy prioritises closing the food gap, promoting early language and learning, reducing substance abuse, ensuring timely screening and referral for hearing and visual disabilities, and strengthening children’s identity and agency. It emphasises collaboration and shared responsibility to ensure every child can thrive.

This study synthesises lessons from implementation research on introducing antenatal multiple micronutrient supplements (MMS) in four low‑income countries. It identifies context‑specific successes and challenges in switching from iron‑folic acid to MMS for pregnant women, highlighting the importance of policy support, community engagement, supply chains, monitoring and collaboration. These insights aim to inform effective scaling of MMS programmes globally.

This study synthesises lessons from implementation research on introducing antenatal multiple micronutrient supplements (MMS) in four low‑income countries. It identifies context‑specific successes and challenges in switching from iron‑folic acid to MMS for pregnant women, highlighting the importance of policy support, community engagement, supply chains, monitoring and collaboration. These insights aim to inform effective scaling of MMS programmes globally.

Life Orientation on EduPortal offers structured resources for Life Skills and Life Orientation across South African school phases, from Intermediate (Grades 4–6) to Senior (Grades 7–9) and FET (Grades 10–12), guiding learners through holistic life‑skills development.

Life Orientation on EduPortal offers structured resources for Life Skills and Life Orientation across South African school phases, from Intermediate (Grades 4–6) to Senior (Grades 7–9) and FET (Grades 10–12), guiding learners through holistic life‑skills development.

This is a scoping review examining quantitative measures of subjective wellbeing used with adolescents (aged ~10–24 years). It identified 52 distinct measures, mapped them to a global adolescent wellbeing framework, and found that while many capture wellbeing domains, some areas especially safety and supportive environments are less consistently measured. The review highlights tools that can improve population wellbeing monitoring and guide policy and interventions.

This is a scoping review examining quantitative measures of subjective wellbeing used with adolescents (aged ~10–24 years). It identified 52 distinct measures, mapped them to a global adolescent wellbeing framework, and found that while many capture wellbeing domains, some areas especially safety and supportive environments are less consistently measured. The review highlights tools that can improve population wellbeing monitoring and guide policy and interventions.

This is a systematic review in Infant and Child Development defining parent responsiveness. It presents a theoretical model detailing how parents recognize, interpret, and respond to infants’ cues, emphasizing timing, sensitivity, and appropriateness. The model links responsive parenting to improved cognitive, social, and emotional development in early childhood.

This is a systematic review in Infant and Child Development defining parent responsiveness. It presents a theoretical model detailing how parents recognize, interpret, and respond to infants’ cues, emphasizing timing, sensitivity, and appropriateness. The model links responsive parenting to improved cognitive, social, and emotional development in early childhood.

This report shows that South Africa has high alcohol consumption, averaging 27 litres of pure alcohol per person in 2019 about five glasses of wine, beer, or spirits daily. Rethink Your Drink, a DGMT project, targets excessive drinking to reduce social and health harms. It uses strategic litigation, carefully chosen legal cases against the industry or government, to create broader societal change rather than resolving individual disputes.

This report shows that South Africa has high alcohol consumption, averaging 27 litres of pure alcohol per person in 2019 about five glasses of wine, beer, or spirits daily. Rethink Your Drink, a DGMT project, targets excessive drinking to reduce social and health harms. It uses strategic litigation, carefully chosen legal cases against the industry or government, to create broader societal change rather than resolving individual disputes.

This UNICEF‑led framework outlines a global vision for building strong, coordinated systems that support parents and caregivers throughout children’s lives. It emphasizes a multisectoral, evidence‑based approach to help countries integrate parenting support into health, education, social protection and community services, aiming to improve child well‑being and equity worldwide.

This UNICEF‑led framework outlines a global vision for building strong, coordinated systems that support parents and caregivers throughout children’s lives. It emphasizes a multisectoral, evidence‑based approach to help countries integrate parenting support into health, education, social protection and community services, aiming to improve child well‑being and equity worldwide.