“ARNEC works towards a vision in which the developmental potential of the young child is realized with support from families, communities and states in all member countries in the Asia-Pacific region.”
ARNEC AT A GLANCE
The Asia-Pacific Regional Network for Early Childhood (ARNEC) is a network established to build strong partnerships across sectors and different disciplines, organizations, agencies and institutions in the Asia-Pacific region to advance the agenda on and investment in early childhood. ARNEC covers a wide geographical area from Central Asia, East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia and the Pacific, totaling 47 countries.
The concept of the network emerged in July 2007 from the Regional Early Childhood Policy Review seminar co-organized by UNICEF and UNESCO in Bangkok. At this seminar, participants from nine countries (Pakistan, Nepal, Mongolia, China, Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Lao PDR and Singapore) met to discuss the possibilities of forming a regional early childhood network that would cross all disciplines and sectors.
Initially, three partners – UNICEF East Asia and Pacific Regional Office, Plan International Asia and UNESCO Asia and Pacific Bureau for Education – signed a Memorandum of Understanding to support the establishment and development of ARNEC. A Steering Committee was formed and ARNEC was formally launched at the final Regional Early Childhood Policy Review seminar in February 2008.
The ARNEC Secretariat was temporarily based at the UNICEF East Asia and Pacific Regional Office, Thailand from 2008-2009. In May 2009, SEED Institute (formerly RTRC Asia) was appointed to host the Secretariat on a three year basis and ARNEC was incorporated as a legal independent entity in Singapore on 14 January 2010. Since 17 February 2010, the Secretariat has been operating in Singapore.
MISSION AND ACTION PILLARS
ARNEC works to ensure the rights of every child to optimal holistic development through:
- • Advocacy for Policy Change: Support national partners and members in their assessment and review of national early childhood policies, frameworks and implementation, and facilitate the exchange of models and tools from other contexts.
- • Knowledge Generation: Facilitate the continuous analysis and synthesis of regional early childhood development (ECD) evidence and research, identify priority areas for further learning, and support strategic research activities.
- • Information Management and Dissemination: Provide a platform for ECD professionals to share information and resources, ensuring these are easily accessible to all.
- • Capacity Building: Provide opportunities for professional development and learning related to ECD through strategic ARNEC events, external outlets, and strengthen national networks through targeted technical support.
- • Partnership Building: Build external partnerships and coalitions to create a supportive environment to leverage resources for ECD and ARNEC’s capacity to fulfill its mission
2015 STRATEGIC VISION
By 2015, the Asia-Pacific region will have a strong and dynamic regional ECD community that contributes to holistic national ECD policies, increased resources for young children, strong national early childhood implementation systems, and improved knowledge-base on child development in the region.
The strong regional ECD community includes ARNEC members (organizational and individuals) being active in the network – contributing to and learning from the community. They will help shape how ARNEC evolves by identifying challenges and opportunities for learning across countries. ARNEC will motivate early childhood professionals and partners by connecting them to opportunities for their growth and development, and facilitating learning across countries.
ARNEC will engage with the global movement to include early childhood in the development agenda to ensure regional perspectives are reflected and represented.
ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
ARNEC is guided by 15 Steering Committee members who provide direction for the planning and development of the network and its activities. The Steering Committee members include nine early childhood experts from countries in the Asia-Pacific region who are elected to serve a term of two years, and six representatives from Core Team organizations. Core Team organizations represent key partners who not only support ARNEC with financial resources but appoint focal points to serve on the Steering Committee. Core Team organizations actively promote early childhood development in the Asia-Pacific region and whose objectives align with that of ARNEC. Currently, the Core Team consists of the UNICEF East Asia and Pacific Regional Office, UNESCO Asia and Pacific Regional Office, Plan International Asia, Open Society Foundation, Save the Children and SEED Institute.
MEMBERSHIP
ARNEC membership can be divided into individual and institutional membership categories.
Individual membership is available to any individual working in the field of early childhood who is concerned with young children and families in the Asia-Pacific region, and who supports, follows and draws from the work of ARNEC. Individual membership does not imply any affiliation with a member’s employer or institution and is free. There are over 750 registered individual members from 51 countries globally as of December 2010.
In August 2010, ARNEC launched the Friends of ARNEC institutional membership category for early childhood networks/forums, professional societies, private sector associations, civil society organizations, non-governmental organizations, community-based organizations, volunteer organizations, universities, and research or policy institutions that actively promote early childhood development. Memberships are effective for 12-months immediately upon receipt of a membership fee following the acceptance of the application.
ARNEC welcomes opportunities to explore new partnerships. Interested institutions are invited to submit an application form and other supporting documents to the Secretariat. A review process by the selection committee will take into consideration the background of the institution, the principle of non-competing interests, the potential for collaboration in a one-off activity or more, and other factors.
For more information contact:
Junko Miyahara
Coordinator, ARNEC Secretariat
c/o SEED Institute
73 Bras Basah Road
NTUC Trade Union House #07-01
Singapore 189556
Tel: +65 6332 0652
Fax: +65 6336 0716
Email: junko.miyahara@arnec.net
Website: http://www.arnec.net
