From 16-27 September, 37 government officials and public servants from the State of Piauí participated in the first executive course in early childhood policies, organised by Getulio Vargas Foundation (FGV) in collaboration with Espaço Àra and with support from the Van Leer Foundation.
This training was inspired by the executive programme for leaders on early childhood held annually at Harvard and organised by Nucleo Ciência Pela Infância (NCPI), with support from the Van Leer Foundation. Over two weeks, participants – all with decision-making power and influence in the State of Piauí – gained in-depth insights into essential early childhood topics that should be prioritised in public policy initiatives aimed at children and their caregivers.
The first week of the course was held in person and included an opening address by the Governor of Piauí.
“When the course is offered to state secretaries and decision-makers, it takes on an even greater strategic significance for developing early childhood public policies,” says Ana Luiza Colagrossi of Espaço Àra.
“In this context, the combination of in-person and online classes and technical support for project development provides leaders and managers with robust, practical training that directly applies to their region’s challenges. This structure allows them to analyse complex issues from multiple angles, identify best practices, and receive ongoing support to turn ideas discussed into effective policies tailored to the local context,” she adds.
In addition to classes taught by guest professors, participants also received technical support from the FGV team for over a month, aiding both their understanding of the course content and the development of projects to be presented as a result of the programme.
The executive course featured high-quality content from renowned experts, including Professor Fernando Abrúcio, who discussed public policy and collaborative governance for early childhood; Professor Adriana Alvarenga, who expanded on the concept of nurturing care; and international guest Sam Sternin, who presented findings from behavioural science for early childhood. Professor Pedro Marin also guided the development of public budgets that include early childhood considerations in state planning.
To reinforce the learning, the course covered topics such as poverty, racism, and inequality in early childhood, presented by Professor Dandara Ramos.
“Building a scientifically grounded, theoretically valid understanding to design early childhood initiatives is essential. This is how we began to address poverty in the early 2000s,” explains Professor Ramos.
The second week was held virtually, enabling participants to continue learning, discuss project expectations and present their ideas in groups.
This course is part of a broader strategy that includes establishing an Early Childhood Reference Centre for the State of Piauí and a School of Management Development in Early Childhood Policies. The initiative also opens the possibility of expanding access to this knowledge through similar courses in other Brazilian states.
This executive course in early childhood policies was organised by Getulio Vargas Foundation (FGV) in collaboration with Espaço Àra and with support from the Van Leer Foundation.
