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If you want children to succeed at school, you don�鶹APP�t just need good facilities and great teachers. You need to start them learning at an early age �鶹APP� a VERY early age.

Early childhood development (ECD) �鶹APP� starting from birth �鶹APP� can have a huge impact on a child�鶹APP�s subsequent education, health and even their earnings as an adult.

It�鶹APP�s key because science shows that positive early stimulation can have a profound effect on brain development. Nutrition is also vital because poorly nourished children are less likely to do well in school.

That�鶹APP�s why President Jim Yong Kim and Executive Director Anthony Lake called on world leaders this week to act quickly and invest wisely in ECD and nutrition programmes to reach children before primary school age.

It�鶹APP�s why the  continued to show leadership on ECD by highlighting a $50 million early learning initiative in eastern and southern Africa.

And it�鶹APP�s why the children�鶹APP�s charity is focusing on universal access to quality ECD programmes to ensure that all children have a healthy and equitable start in life in order to reach their fullest potential.

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�鶹APP� World Bank (@WorldBank)

The announcements by the World Bank, UNICEF and the Hilton Foundation were made at an ECD event during the bank�鶹APP�s in Washington, DC.

Mr Kim also warned of the problem of stunted growth that affects one in four children under the age of five.

He said: �鶹APP�The time has come to treat childhood stunting as a development and an economic emergency. How will countries compete in what will certainly be a more digitalised global economy in the future if a third or more of their children are stunted?

�鶹APP�Our failure to make the right investments in early childhood development is condemning millions of children to lives of exclusion.�鶹APP�

He told the event the world �鶹APP�needs a Paris moment�鶹APP� for ECD �鶹APP� referring to the Climate Change Conference in France last year.

Globally, millions of children under the age of five are at risk of never reaching their full developmental potential.

Nearly half of children aged three to six don�鶹APP�t have access to pre-primary education �鶹APP� and in Sub-Saharan Africa, 80% are not enrolled in pre-primary programmes.

.�鶹APP�s Tony Lake: �鶹APP�ECD is a cost effective opportunity. This is a great way to invest in our future�鶹APP�.

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Mr Lake said: �鶹APP�What we are learning about all the elements that affect the development of children�鶹APP�s brains �鶹APP� whether their bodies are well nourished, whether their minds are stimulated, whether they are protected from violence �鶹APP� is already changing the way we think about early childhood development. Now it must change the way we act.�鶹APP�

The new alliance will see World Bank Group and UNICEF inviting governments, development partners, civil society, foundations and the private sector to make ECD a global and national development priority.

They want to support country-led efforts to invest in nutrition, early stimulation and learning, and protection, and engage with communities to drive demand for high-quality ECD services for every child.

The Washington event saw a video message from tennis star Novak Djokovic, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for ECD.

He said: �鶹APP�Millions of children around the world are at a disadvantage from the outset�鶹APP� They will never reach their full potential.

�鶹APP�Investing in early childhood development is one of the smartest investments a country can make. With the right start every child can achieve their full potential.�鶹APP�

Hilton Foundation President Peter Laugharn also highlighted the $50 million African investment in ECD at a . On the role of the private sector, he said: �鶹APP�We can be helpful with the experimental, the things that governments are hesitant to provide. We welcome partnerships with business and welcome their particular skills.�鶹APP�

Whereas the education target of the Millennium Development Goals concentrated solely on getting every child into primary school, the new Sustainable Devlopment Goals for 2030 include ECD and early years education.

�鶹APP, the charity behind A World at School, is working to raise awareness about importance of ECD and encouraging increased investment.

�鶹APP President Sarah Brown said in January: �鶹APP�2016 will be a big year for ECD and there are many experts waiting to give their voices to support the case. Investing in a tiny person is the way to get big dividends from our future citizens. Watch this space.�鶹APP�

Early childhood is a critical period in a child�鶹APP�s life. Gaps in development during this time can have a life-long detriment on agirl or boy�鶹APP�s physical and mental health, behaviour, learning and success.

In terms of getting ready for school, early learning initiatives such as pre-primary education programmes increase a child�鶹APP�s school readiness and primary school achievement. They also decrease the likelihood that a child will repeat a grade or drop out.

Early learning programmes prepare girls and boys for academic success in primary school and beyond.