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Childhood Cost Data initiative

The Childhood Cost Data initiative at Brookings aims to build global momentum to generate quality, comparable cost data on programs seeking to improve cognitive, psycho-social, nutritional, and health outcomes of all children and young people. With this goal at the center, the initiative strives to identify the barriers to costing and put solutions into practice through the development of tools and resources for cost collection and analysis. The work draws on a decade of Brookings research on data and transparency, innovations, and financing to identify and document key principles for effective data collection and use, as well as on the depth and breadth of knowledge of other key stakeholders working to improve outcomes for children and youth.

In addition to the research found here, the Childhood Cost Data initiative website houses the Childhood Cost Calculator (C3) and the Cost Data Explorer. The Childhood Cost Calculator is a free, online tool for costing interventions for children and youth across a wide range of sectors including education (early childhood to tertiary), health, nutrition, water and sanitation, social protection, and governance.

Global Costing Taskforce for Education and Early Childhood Care and Education
Education Global Costing Taskforce for Education and Early Childhood Care and Education

The Global Costing Taskforce aims to improve the collection, use, and publication of cost data to inform more equitable, efficient, and cost-effective education and early childhood programs.

September 18, 2025

The Childhood Cost Calculator (C3)
c3
Education The Childhood Cost Calculator (C3)

Clement Adamba, Dante Castillo-Canales, Chhorn Lin, Emily Gustafsson-Wright, Mustapha Mensah, Rosa Maria Moncada, Erick Nehring, Elyse Painter, Sorachana Seng, Wendy Smith, Leslie Tettey

September 18, 2023

A Childhood Cost Calculator costing lab case study: aeioTU early childhood education program in Colombia
Early Childhood Education A Childhood Cost Calculator costing lab case study: aeioTU early childhood education program in Colombia

Emily Gustafsson-Wright, Ema Eguchi, Elyse Painter, Victoria Arciniegas Gomez, Leydi Maldonado

June 30, 2025

Taking stock, part 2: Mapping global education and early childhood costing and financing initiatives
Global Education Taking stock, part 2: Mapping global education and early childhood costing and financing initiatives

Elyse Painter, Emily Gustafsson-Wright, Ansumana Konneh

April 17, 2025

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