There is a considerable amount of information focussing on the issues of early childhood development. Here are some links to valuable sources of information:

South African Government

UNICEF

UNDP

World Bank

Some reports from various United Nations organisations:

Poverty and Children Lessons of the 90's for Least Developed Countries	Early Childhood Development: Investing in the Future	Poverty Reduction Begins  with Children
State of the World's Children 1999	State of the World's Children 2001	State of the World's Children 2002