Scaling Early Childhood Development – what to read this month | February 2026

Scaling Early Childhood Development – what to read this month is curated by Bet Caeyers (Lead Editor, Chr. Michelsen Institute), Tanvi (Editor, Oxford Policy Management) and Daniel Munday (Editor, Oxford Policy Management).

A new National Bureau of Economic Research working paper by Aghion, Almås and Meghir discusses the importance of human capital accumulation — starting with early childhood development (ECD) — for long-term growth in low and middle-income countries (LMIC)s, with human capital accounting for an estimated 45% of global growth in recent decades. Yet schooling expansion has not delivered catch-up growth because learning quality remains weak, constrained by low-performing school systems. While research identifies cost-effective, scalable ECD and education interventions, the challenge is embedding them sustainably within government systems with strong monitoring and accountability. Moreover, the paper emphasises complementarities: human capital alone cannot drive growth without supportive institutions, innovation and physical investment. Scaling ECD effectively therefore requires both improving early learning quality and fostering an enabling economic environment so that human capital translates into sustained development.

New research from China shows that digital parenting programmes are most effective when paired with trusted human support and adapted to local contexts. Shi et al. evaluated a chatbot-based intervention delivered through an urban preschool and rural health centres. Outcomes varied by setting: impact was stronger when content aligned with families’ priorities – nutrition and disease prevention in rural clinics, early learning in urban preschools – and when delivery was embedded within existing systems. Urban families benefited from teacher-led online group support, while rural families responded better to structured home visits by village doctors, reflecting differences in access, accountability, and trust. Overall, the study highlights the importance of hybrid digital parenting models that combine low-cost technology with strong, locally-grounded human infrastructure.

A recent review by Ljungcrantz maps the rapidly expanding field of artificial intelligence (AI) in early childhood education (ECE), identifying sharp growth in AI-focused ECE research since 2020, with much of the output emerging from China. Most studies centre on children aged 4–6 and examine how AI-supported apps and multimodal systems influence learning and development, particularly problem-solving skills. At the same time, the literature raises concerns about screen time, physical activity and social interaction, alongside mixed perceptions from teachers and parents that reflect both optimism and caution. The review highlights important evidence gaps, including a lack of longitudinal follow-up studies and limited research involving children of different ages and more diverse backgrounds, pointing to priorities for future research.

The 2026 Lancet Commission on a Citizen-Centred Health System for India, by Patel et al., outlines a comprehensive roadmap for scaling universal health coverage in one of the world’s largest and most complex health systems (see Figure 1 for India´s universal health coverage performance today). Moving beyond fragmented, disease-specific programmes, the Commission proposes scaling through integrated, citizen-centred primary care networks anchored in secondary hospitals, strategic purchasing with a purchaser–provider split, blended provider payment reforms (capitation and global budgets), and alignment of the large private sector with public goals. It highlights digital public infrastructure – including unique health IDs, interoperable data platforms, telemedicine and AI – as catalytic tools for coordinated, quality-assured scale. Importantly, the report emphasises decentralised governance, citizen engagement and a ‘learning health system’ to enable adaptive implementation across diverse states and districts. Together, these reforms offer a systems-level blueprint for scaling equitable, high-quality care in large, federal contexts.

Relatedly, a systematic review by Vigurs et al. maps the evidence on interventions addressing child malnutrition in LMICs, and assesses the degree of alignment with current policy strategies in India targeting the first 1,000 days. The evidence shows that multisectoral approaches – integrating nutrition support, water, sanitation and hygiene, education and social protection – deliver the strongest impacts on stunting reduction and child growth. The review notes that India has established cross-sectoral policy platforms, including the Integrated Child Development Services and the Public Distribution System, to address health, nutrition and food security. However, persistent implementation gaps, sectoral siloes, and regional inequalities – particularly in remote areas – continue to limit effectiveness. For scaling, the findings reinforce that sustained impact depends not only on multisectoral design but also on overcoming contextual and governance barriers that constrain delivery.

New qualitative evidence provided by Kezakubi et al. describes how a gender-sensitive mass media campaign implemented in Tanzania helped shift harmful gender norms and increase men’s involvement in maternal and child health. Implemented as part of the ASTUTE nutrition project, designed to reduce child stunting by improving nutrition practices, the campaign used radio and TV messages to engage men and promote behaviour change. The evaluation found increased male participation in antenatal care, maternal nutrition, child feeding, early stimulation and support for exclusive breastfeeding. Message diffusion within families reinforced emerging norms. Overall, the findings suggest that targeting men through mass media can help reduce gender-related barriers and improve maternal and child health outcomes.

Finally, a study in Lagos, Nigeria, examining the implementation of the World Health Organization’s Mental Health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP), explored the experiences of 96 frontline workers and 10 stakeholders three months after training. While training achieved high acceptability and adoption, shifting providers from avoidance to active engagement in mental health care, its feasibility and sustainability were constrained by systemic weaknesses. Fidelity depended on structured supervision, with WhatsApp peer groups emerging as an important but fragile source of clinical support. Persistent medication stockouts created a ‘training–implementation gap’, limiting effective treatment despite improved diagnostic capacity. Overall, the findings underscore that training alone is insufficient; sustainable integration requires reliable supervision, secure supply chains and stronger system support.