During discussions held at the International Financing Summit for Early Childhood in New York, Al Reem Abdullah Al Falasi, Secretary-General of the UAE’s Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and Shri Anil Malik, Secretary in India’s Ministry of Women and Child Development, reviewed opportunities to link their respective systems and share policy tools.
The two sides explored an exchange of curricula, educational tools and monitoring frameworks to elevate quality in early childhood education. They also examined joint interventions in nutrition, including breastfeeding promotion and complementary feeding schemes, alongside a potential collaborative study on the impact of nutritional inputs on child growth.
In a move to strengthen South-South learning, participants considered a joint “state of childhood” report to document lessons and best practices. They also discussed fostering child parliaments and enabling digital dialogues on topics such as education, environment and online safety—linking the Emirati Children’s Parliament with Indian equivalents.
Al Falasi highlighted several benchmarks achieved by the UAE, including an under-five mortality rate of approximately five per 1,000 live births, immunisation coverage of 96 per cent, and a 16 per cent rise in early education enrolment in Dubai. She cited programmes such as “I Support My Friends” in partnership with UNICEF and national anti-bullying initiatives benefiting over 240,000 students.
India’s commitment to child development is embodied in its long-standing flagship Integrated Child Development Services scheme, which has been progressively reformed in areas of nutrition, early education, and system strengthening under projects such as ISSNIP.
Observers note that cooperation between the UAE and India in this domain is timely. Many countries are now emphasising the “first 1,000 days” as foundational for health, learning and long-term human capital. The UAE’s experience in leveraging technological platforms, data systems and public engagement may complement India’s large scale outreach through anganwadis and integrated service delivery.
Challenges loom, especially in aligning diverse governance systems, resource constraints, and ensuring that rural and underprivileged communities benefit equitably. India’s ICDS has faced criticism over delivery gaps in remote districts, staff shortages, and uneven nutrition outcomes across states.
Officials from both nations signalled openness to pilot joint initiatives and exchange expert missions. India could share implementation experience across vast, decentralised service networks; while the UAE might contribute in digital platforms, measurement tools, and capacity building approaches.
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