Deadline extended for Thrive scientific conference call for papers

Submissions by 16 February 2025

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Thrive is inviting submissions of high-quality academic research papers from its five focus countries (Ghana, Tanzania, Bangladesh, Sierra Leone and Kiribati) and other low-and middle -income (LMIC) settings.

The conference will focus on papers that inform implementation of early childhood development (ECD) policies and programmes in LMICs, across four main areas:

1. What works – innovative ECD approaches with potential for scale (developing and testing ECD innovations with potential for scale in LMIC settings, and increasing understanding of the process of early childhood development in LMIC settings)
2. Implementation at scale – transitioning to large-scale interventions (implementation of ECD interventions at scale and provide evidence to inform a successful transition of ECD programmes to scale)
3. Equity and inclusion– how to make sure scaling is equitable and inclusive (how to ensure gender equity, access for marginalised and disadvantaged groups, caregiver empowerment and father engagement in ECD at scale)
4. Measurement and assessment at scale (informing ECD measurement and assessment at scale in LMIC settings, including innovation in measures of child development and/or validation of existing measures in new settings)

Plenary speakers at the conference include Joseph Agbenyega, Associate Professor in the Counselling, Special Education and Neuroscience Division at Emirates College for Advanced Education (ECAE); Amanda Devercelli, Global Co-Lead for Early Childhood Development, World Bank; Lia Fernald, Professor of Community Health Sciences, Brian and Jennifer Maxwell Endowed Chair in Public Health, University of California, Berkeley; John List, Professor of Economics, University of Chicago; Joan Lombardi, Adjunct Professor and Senior Advisor, Stanford Center on Early Childhood; Florencia Lopez–Boo, Director, Global Ties, NYU; Mushfiq Mobarak, Professor of Economics, Yale University, and Mark Tomlinson, Professor, Institute for Life Course Health Research, Stellenbosch University.

For further information and submission guidelines, visit the Thrive event page or download the Call for Papers.