The Early Childhood Peace Consortium (ECPC)

Presenters at the ECPC launch at UNICEF, HQ (Sept. 2013). Photo: NS Fallon

The Early Childhood Peace Consortium (ECPC)

The Early Childhood Peace Consortium (ECPC)

Breaking the Cycle: How Early Childhood Programs Build Lasting Peace

Two-thirds of children under 4 experience violence. But investing in their earliest years could be the key to breaking cycles of conflict and building peaceful societies.
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The Problem We’re Solving

Violence affects almost everyone. Close to 1.5 billion people live in conflict zones. Children bear the heaviest burden—they make up 90% of civilian casualties in wars.
 
The damage starts early. When young children experience violence or toxic stress, it literally changes how their brains develop. This creates a cycle: hurt children often become adults who struggle with relationships, employment, and may perpetuate violence in their own families.
 
The cost is enormous. Communities trapped in this cycle face higher unemployment, poverty, and ongoing conflict. For individuals, it’s tragic. For society, it’s catastrophic.
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The Solution: Early Childhood Development (ECD)

What We Know Works
Quality early childhood programs don’t just help kids—they transform communities.
  • 37% reduction in likelihood of conflict when programs address gender inequality
  • 50% lower rates of adult incarceration for children in quality early programs
  • Doubled risk of violent conflict in countries with unequal access to early education
How It Works
When we invest in young children through:
  • Parenting support programs
  • Early learning opportunities
  • Family strengthening services
We see:
  • Stronger families with less domestic violence
  • Connected communities where parents work together
  • Better relationships between citizens and government
  • Economic growth from a healthier, more skilled workforce
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Real Impact: Northern Ireland’s Story

For nearly 50 years, Early Years—one of our founding partners—has used early childhood programs to build peace in Northern Ireland. Their work shows how investing in young children can help communities move from conflict to cooperation.
 
“ECD services can transcend existing political divides and encourage those involved in conflict to re-focus their attention on their children and their future.”
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Our Theory of Change

If governments and organizations design early childhood programs that build peace-relevant skills in children, families, and communities…
Then we see:
  1. Stronger social bonds within families and between diverse groups
  2. Breaking the cycle of violence passing from parent to child
  3. Economic growth and sustainable development
We’re testing this theory in six countries right now, with early results showing promise.
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Quick Facts

By the Numbers:
  • 1.6 billion children (2 in 3) face violent punishment at home¹
  • 473+ million children live in conflict zones (1 in 6 globally)²
  • Educational inequality doubles the likelihood of violent conflict³
  • Quality ECD programs reduce adult incarceration rates and show lifelong benefits⁴
Where We Work:
  • 6 pilot countries testing our peace-building approach
  • Partners include UN agencies, universities, and local organizations
  • $100 million MacArthur Foundation grant supporting displaced children in Middle East
Our Research Partners:
  • Harvard University
  • Yale University
  • New York University
  • Queen’s University Belfast
  • UNICEF
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Citations and Sources

¹ UNICEF. (2024). Fast Facts: Violence against children widespread, affecting millions globally. Retrieved from https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/fast-facts-violence-against-childr…
² UNICEF. (2024). 2024: ‘One of the worst years in UNICEF’s history’ for children in conflict. Retrieved from https://www.unicef.org/easterncaribbean/stories/2024-one-worst-years-uni…
³ UNICEF. (2012-2016). Peacebuilding, Education and Advocacy in Conflict-Affected Contexts Programme (PBEA). Research findings from 14-country implementation.
⁴ Black, M.M., Walker, S.P., Fernald, L.C.H., et al. (2017). Early childhood development coming of age: science through the life course. The Lancet, 389(10064), 77-90. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(16)31389-7
 
Additional References
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What We Do

Research
We study how early childhood programs build peace and share findings with policymakers worldwide.
 
Policy & Advocacy
We translate complex research into clear messages that convince governments to invest in young children.
 
Programs
Our partners implement and test peace-building early childhood programs in communities around the world.
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The Bottom Line

Investing in early childhood development isn’t just good for kids—it’s one of our most powerful tools for building peaceful societies.
 
The science is clear. The evidence is growing. Now we need the political will and resources to scale what works.
Ready to learn more? Explore our research, programs, and advocacy tools below.
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About the Early Childhood Peace Consortium (ECPC)

We’re a global alliance of UN agencies, universities, NGOs, and practitioners united by one belief: that investing in the earliest years of life is a proven, cost-effective strategy for reducing violence and building lasting peace.
 
Founded by UNICEF, Yale University, AÇEV (Turkey), the Fetzer Institute, and Early Years (Northern Ireland).
 

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