ABSTRACT
The number of humanitarian crises is increasing, they are lasting longer and more children are being displaced. A whole generation of children not developing to their full potential will be the future workforce of a country and some could be future leaders. Research indicates that children who are not talked to or interacted with have smaller brains and fewer neural connections. Evidence from a myriad of studies has indicated that children not reaching their developmental potential can lead to an average reduction of 19.8% in adult annual income. Children are resilient and science tells us that a child’s experience can shift the scale from negative outcomes to positive ones. Donors supporting the South Sudan refugee crisis and other humanitarian situations are starting to understand the importance of investing in early childhood development (ECD) for young children. There is no mechanism where implementing agencies and donors are pushed to consider the needs of young children.
