Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Unit Planning and Development Department, Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in collaboration with UNICEF, organized a Provincial Brainstorming Session on the Implementation of the National Early Childhood Development (ECD) Policy Framework at Peshawar. The session was chaired by the Special Secretary, P&D Department & Chief Nutrition/National SUN Focal Person, Ministry of Planning Development & Special Initiatives.

and attended by representatives from key provincial departments, including Health, Education, Population Welfare, Social Welfare, Local Government, Agriculture, Food, Public Health Engineering, Information and Public Relations, as well as development partners and technical experts. The consultation was organized following the launch of the National ECD Policy Framework in February 2025 and aimed to build a common understanding of the framework, strengthen provincial ownership, and discuss its implementation in the context of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa..

During the session, participants were briefed on the strategic priorities of the National ECD Policy Framework and the importance of adopting a multisectoral approach to support the holistic development of children from conception to eight years of age. Discussions highlighted the critical role of coordinated interventions in health, nutrition, education, water and sanitation, social protection, and caregiver support in ensuring optimal child development outcomes. Participants reviewed the existing ECD landscape in the province, identified key challenges and service delivery gaps, and deliberated on opportunities for integrating ECD interventions into ongoing sectoral programmes and policies.