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Who cares if a child gets the best start in life? Their parents, family and caregivers, of course.

But countries and businesses should care too �鶹APP� because investing in young children can help to boost a nation�鶹APP�s economy and potential for growth.

It is one of the smartest investments a country can make, helping to break the cycle of poverty and tackle inequality. 

Every $1 spent on pre-school programmes can return up to $7, according to the influential Education Commission report last month. The future return comes from better productivity and lower spending on education and welfare.

On the flip side, give children a poor start in life and their country stands to lose around 20% in future productivity.

It makes sense for businesses to do their bit too.

�鶹APP�The future of any business is intrinsically linked with the future of every child,�鶹APP� said Bob Collymore, CEO of the Kenyan telecoms company Safaricom. �鶹APP�Our ability to provide that child with the physical, social, cognitive and emotional support will determine our ability to survive as a business and ultimately as a society.�鶹APP�

This is why early childhood development is high on the agenda for developing countries �鶹APP� and why the children�鶹APP�s charity �鶹APP has launched its .

#5for5 highlights the importance of nutrition, health, learning, play and protection during a child�鶹APP�s first five years of life �鶹APP� .

But 250 million children under five are currently prevented from reaching their full potential by poverty, insufficient nutrition and health services.

The will put pressure on world leaders to take urgent action to make sure all children �鶹APP� especially the poorest and most marginalised �鶹APP� have access to the full range of nurturing care.

The rates of return on investment featured in a recent report by the called .

It said early learning programmes have been shown in the short term to �鶹APP�immediately generate about $2 for every $1 dollar invested, through the sale of local goods and services�鶹APP�, 

In the long run, there is an estimated return on investment of up to 10:1 for disadvantaged children. The report also said one study had estimated that increasing pre-school enrolment to 50% in every low- and middle-income country would result in an 8% to 18% return on investment.

If a child gets access to proper nutrition, research shows that for every $1 invested in preventing stunting among children generates up to $18 in economic returns.

In comparison, later interventions such as adult literacy programmes and job training services, show significantly lower economic returns.

�鶹APP�Ensuring every child�鶹APP�s wellbeing today is the best way of securing robust economies tomorrow,�鶹APP� said Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, former Nigerian finance minister and Board Chair of GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance.

�鶹APP�Currently, Africa and Asia lose 11% of their GDP (gross domestic product) every year because of malnutrition, a preventable condition.

�鶹APP�We know that investing in early years interventions across health, wellbeing and learning will allow our children to grow, learn, and earn to their full potential.

�鶹APP�Our economies depend on our children and we must not ignore the importance of giving them a healthy and equitable start in life.�鶹APP�

But in many communities there is no investment in early childhood development programmes �鶹APP� or where there is the quality is poor.

Comprehensive early years programmes are chronically underfunded by international donors, country governments and private philanthropy.

As a result, generations of children don�鶹APP�t get the best start. Yet these children are future educators, community leaders, business leaders and customers.

The success of any business or institution relies on the quality of its workforce.

Jim Kim, President of the World Bank, said: �鶹APP�Competing in today�鶹APP�s digital economy requires a workforce with well-developed brains. How do we expect employers to invest in a country if its workforce is not sufficiently developed physically and or cognitively?�鶹APP�

Evidence shows that investments in quality early childhood development lead to a more productive, skilled work force and yield high returns in a country�鶹APP�s economy.

Investment however, will do much more than bridge the skills gap �鶹APP� it will unlock the untapped potential of generations.

Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank, said: �鶹APP�Child education should not be seen as a social development issue but rather one that shapes the path of economic growth and development.

�鶹APP�We therefore need to significantly increase our investments in child education, as children are the future of the world.�鶹APP�