Research 

This paper was developed to provide concise background information for participants at the ACESS conference "Building Consensus on Meeting the Comprehensive Social Security Needs of Young Children (0 - 9) in South Africa" in Cape Town 23 and 24 July 2008. It contains information on how recent comprehensive and integrated ECD policies and planning documents plan and allow for integrated delivery of social security for the young child including monitoring and evaluation tools and systems. It presents available information on progress with mechanisms for operationalising an integrated approach, identifies gaps and challenges and reflects on whether the integrated framework allows for the filling of these gaps in an integrated, cross departmental manner. Points from the discussion of the Working Group on Integrated ECD Services at the ACESS conference have been included in the paper. An Addendum provides recent data on coverage of the relevant service areas. The paper's focus is on the three departments principally concerned with providing of ECD services in South Africa - the Departments of Social Development, Education and Health, with the Office the Rights of the Child in the Presidency playing a monitoring role, while noting the contribution of other departments to the provision of comprehensive social protection for young children. 

Paper commissioned by the Alliance for Children Entitlement to Social Security