By Africa, for Africa: data and action for young children

The possibilities and constraints of an individual’s development across their lifespan are laid down in the early years. Using extreme poverty and stunting as proxies for adversity, Lu et al. estimated that 249 million children under five years of age (43%) are at risk of not learning at school or earning as adults to their expected potential. 1 Most of these children live in sub-Saharan Africa (55%). It is increasingly clear that these vulnerable children and their future potential are precious, not only for themselves, for their families and countries. They are also central to the resilience and sustainability of society as a whole. Economically active age groups are declining globally as birth rates fall, and longevity increases. Substantial economic gains can be realized in regions with large child populations and beyond, yielding stronger, more equitable societies, with benefits across generations.