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Access to quality early childhood development (ECD), care, and pre-primary education is essential for child development and is now recognized as a priority under the Sustainable Development Goals. Investments in ECD by major donors have been rising rapidly in recent years. This makes the task of understanding better what works to promote ECD, and what may not work as well, a priority. The objective of this special issue of theJournal of Human Development and Capabilitiesis to contribute to the evidence base in three areas—the roles of program interventions, family contexts, and broader policies in ensuring optimal child development. The issue consists of five research articles, most of which provide evaluations of specific interventions, as well as three shorter notes considering broader policy issues. The main conclusions of the various contributions are summarized in this article together with a brief introduction to simple conceptual frameworks that countries, donors, and other stakeholders may find useful when considering alternative ways to invest in ECD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early childhood is a critical period in a child’s development. Poor conditions early in life affect not only children’s physical growth, but also their brain development and capabilities, with lasting consequences in adulthood. A child’s family is the first and most important support system to ensure healthy growth and development. This also means that when the family and especially the mother is vulnerable, this can have lasting negative consequences for young children. This article illustrates the impact that family conditions can have on early childhood development by considering the specific case of child marriage, defined as a girl marrying before the age of 18, as well as early childbirth, defined as a girl having a child before the age of 18, itself in most cases a consequence of child marriage. The article also discusses interventions that could help in reducing both the likelihood of child marriage and its intergenerational impacts on young children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]