{
  "abstract": "Across diverse global contexts, children face persistent barriers to achieving their full developmental potential, especially those affected by poverty, disability, displacement, or systemic exclusion. Addressing these challenges demands more than programmatic interventions: it requires systems-level catalysts that shift how early childhood development (ECD) is resourced, prioritized, and delivered.This session examines how catalytic strategies, such as social innovation funding, community co-design, and cross-sector collaboration, have enabled inclusive, resilient, and scalable change. Through this session, participants will explore and understand the characteristics of the catalyst ‘role’ when it comes to shaping systems so that they can deliver services to children and families, centered in dignity and respect. We will dive into three different approaches that could catalyse systems to become ‘innovative’ in themselves:Program implementers evolving into system catalysts: the example of CEDI-FMUSP, enabling the Brazilian home visiting program to be delivered with particular attention to caregivers and families who are most vulnerable (indigenous families, families facing violence)Organisations designed to catalyse systems: the example of Instiglio, driving forward results-based approaches for Early Childhood in ColombiaPooled funding approaches that can bring together implementers, government stakeholders and communities to design systems and processes that meet everyone’s needs, the example of CoImpact.Highlighted innovations include culturally embedded learning programs, disability-inclusive care models, and caregiver empowerment strategies that have redefined how systems support the most vulnerable children. Through this lens, we discuss what it takes to seed and scale equitable ECD solutions, build system responsiveness, and close persistent equity gaps.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Truepoint, Toronto, Canada"
      ],
      "name": "Jasmine Lam"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "iaEd, Switzerland"
      ],
      "name": "Andrew Bollington"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada"
      ],
      "name": "James Radner"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Grand Challenges Canada, Toronto, Canada"
      ],
      "name": "Sanjana Janardhanan"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Grand Challenges Canada, Toronto, Canada"
      ],
      "name": "Michelle Cruickshank"
    }
  ],
  "title": "109 Catalyzing systems change for early childhood development: innovations for equity and impact",
  "uid": "b4c2fb05-8f53-5467-a17f-84ce84d03707"
}