August 27, 2025 – The World Health Organization (WHO), in collaboration with expert partners, is convening a Digital Dialogue Series, creating dedicated space to exchange strategies, foster cross-regional learning, celebrate progress, and collectively address implementation challenges. This session in the series was hosted by GISP partners and focused how governments, civil society, and philanthropy can work together to turn pledges into action following commitments to invest in parenting support made at the 2024 Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children.
A summary of key messages delivered by the speakers is included below.
Sabine Rakotomalala (WHO)
Sabine opened the dialogue, welcoming participants and outlining the session’s focus on financing support for parents and caregivers. She highlighted last year’s Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children, where 101 government pledges were made. She explained that this digital dialogue series builds on those commitments, linking diverse areas such as online violence, children in alternative care, and justice. Sabine emphasized governments’ role, while also including civil society, survivors, and technical experts. She introduced the agenda: a discussion on financing, a youth perspective, a review of pledges, country cases from Pakistan and Zambia, and then a panel discussion. Throughout the conversation, Sabine reinforced that caregiver support is a cornerstone of prevention, protection, and systemic change.
Philip Goldman (Maestral International)
Philip illustrated the economic case for caregiver support using a finance analogy. He explained that investing in parenting programs yields multiples on invested capital that rivals, or exceeds, Wall Street returns—ranging from 2x to 30x per dollar spent. He shared that evidence from UNICEF and US programs showed high returns due to improved education, health outcomes, reduced violence, and lower social costs. He urged advocates to embed caregiver support within broader social policy, to use innovative financing models (e.g., impact bonds, diaspora bonds, private-public partnerships), and to make the investment case continuously, not as a one-off. His key message was that investing in parents and caregivers drives human capital, economic growth, and social cohesion, and should be seen as both a moral and financial imperative.
Bryanna Mariñas (Youth Advocate, Philippines)
Bryanna stressed that safeguarding children requires safeguarding caregivers. She highlighted that corporal punishment is prevalent, especially at home, and affects 1.2 billion children. Drawing from her advocacy and film project, she explained how cycles of violence persist because stressed parents revert to replicating practices they experienced as children. Parenting support provides individuals with alternatives—tools for safe, nurturing discipline, and helps break intergenerational violence. From her work co-developing programs in the Philippines, she has seen how families thrive when support exists: parents feel less isolated, children flourish, and families grow stronger. She emphasized that strong homes create strong communities. Conversely, violence at home ripples outward into schools and workplaces. For youth, caregiver support is not optional—it is essential for prevention, protection, and hope.
Shekufeh Zonji (ECDAN)
Shekufeh presented an overview of the Bogota parenting pledges. Out of 104 country pledges, 52 addressed parenting support, with Africa having the largest share. The pledges included scaling evidence-based programs, integrating parenting into policy systems, implementing digital solutions, increasing violence prevention, and supporting mental health. About 32 pledges were measurable, but only 10 specified funding. Some notable examples included Pakistan’s plan to reach 28 million caregivers, Guinea-Bissau’s aim for national parent education by 2030, and Benin’s law against corporal punishment. Commitments spanned workforce development, legal reforms, and initiatives to change social norms. She noted gaps in specificity and financing, but also recognized progress toward universal and system-wide approaches.
Christine Kolbe-Stuart (UNICEF)
Christine unveiled UNICEF’s Global Conceptual Framework for Universal Parenting Support. The framework provides a structured, multi-sectoral approach grounded in scientific evidence and equity. It defines universal parenting support across life stages, emphasizes system capacity-building, and integrates parenting with health, education, and protection programs. Financing is central: sustainable support requires predictable, needs-based budgets that include workforce development, monitoring, and community engagement. She highlighted only 26% of governments currently reach all parents. The framework advocates for rights-based, economic, and social arguments to strengthen investment. It also provides seven advocacy strategies and examples of financing models. Christine concluded by positioning the framework as a global resource for policymakers, donors, and partners.
Dr. Muhammad Arif (Pakistan’s Ministry of Human Rights) & Saba Shuja (UNICEF Pakistan)
Dr. Arif described Pakistan’s post-Bogota actions, which involved creating “Art of Parenting” manuals (for ages up to 9 and adolescents), translating them, and training 800 master trainers plus 1,000 parents. Trainings extended to provinces like Peshawar and Chitral, with more planned. Financing for these activities comes through allocations within existing ministry budgets and UNICEF partnerships, with multiyear plans in place. Saba added that Pakistan allocated PKR 8.5 million for parenting within early childhood development, making it a national policy priority. Both speakers emphasized integration of parenting elements with nutrition, child protection, and social protection programs.
Mwangala Kalila (Zambia’s Ministry of Community Development & Social Services)
Mwangala reported on Zambia’s three Bogota commitments, which included developing parenting programs, increasing budgets, and strengthening implementation. Zambia integrated parenting into broader child protection programs, mainstreamed financing within welfare budgets, and adopted standardized case management tools. They leveraged NGO resources (e.g., Save the Children), trained foster parents, and reviewed parenting materials to address new challenges. Zambia’s 2022 Children’s Code Act legally mandates parental responsibility and intensive family support. Progress is evident, but challenges remain. These include weak coordination, limited funding, and a shortage of social workers. Foreign aid cuts (e.g., USAID withdrawal) reduced the program’s scope, but Zambia is responding by embedding parenting into existing programs, building partnerships, and standardizing national systems.