The UAE and India have agreed to explore stronger cooperation in early childhood development, education, and nutrition during high-level talks held in New York on the sidelines of the International Financing Summit for Early Childhood, hosted by UNICEF alongside the 80th UN General Assembly.
Al Reem Abdullah Al Falasi, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, met with Shri Anil Malik, Secretary at India’s Ministry of Women and Child Development, to discuss joint strategies aimed at improving child wellbeing.
The talks focused on sharing best practices in early childhood education, including curricula and educational tools, and enhancing nutrition programmes that promote breastfeeding and complementary feeding. Both sides also considered a joint project to measure the impact of nutritional interventions on child growth.
Discussions extended to child participation initiatives, such as creating opportunities for cooperation between the Emirati Children’s Parliament and Indian child parliaments through digital dialogues on education, environment, and digital safety. A joint report on the state of childhood was also proposed as a model for South-South collaboration.
Al Falasi highlighted the UAE’s progress in reducing under-five mortality to five per 1,000 live births, achieving 96 percent immunisation coverage, and expanding early education enrolment. She also pointed to national programmes like the “I Support My Friends” training with UNICEF and the school anti-bullying initiative that has reached more than 240,000 students.
She stressed that investing in children is a strategic priority for the UAE, reflecting the vision of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak to protect and empower future generations.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
