Fiji is one of seven Pacific Island Countries exceeding the international benchmark of spending 1% of Gross Domestic Product on early childhood development (ECD), according to Jonathan Veitch, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) representative for the Pacific Island Countries.
Veitch made these remarks during a panel discussion focused on investing in the first 1,000 days, held earlier this week. He highlighted the findings of a recent study by UNICEF, which tracked ECD expenditures across seven Pacific Island Countries: Fiji, Samoa, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu, and Kiribati.
The study revealed that expenditures on ECD in all these nations surpassed the internationally recommended threshold. Additionally, the majority of ECD funding was sourced domestically, with external donor contributions accounting for a relatively minor portion.
Despite this significant investment, Veitch noted that the spending levels have not led to improved outcomes for children, particularly in areas such as nutrition and education. He suggested that the high cost of doing business in the Pacific might mean that the 1% GDP benchmark does not adequately reflect the region’s needs, indicating a potential requirement for additional financing.
He also pointed out that current spending might not be sufficiently efficient. Improved coordination across different sectors could enhance expenditure effectiveness, leading to better overall outcomes in early childhood development.