FUTURE INVESTMENT: Thrive by Five uses data to drive smarter investment in early childhood

Sonja Giese has dedicated over 30 years of her career to child development, with a specific focus on using data to improve early learning outcomes in South Africa. Her pioneering work includes the Thrive by Five Index, which has empowered communities, educators, and policymakers to drive meaningful social change. The index, launched in 2022, is the largest survey of preschool child outcomes ever conducted in South Africa and reflects a true partnership between various organizations.

Giese believes the index has been more transformative than anticipated, as it has validated the work of educators and policymakers instead of feeling criticized. The national survey, conducted every three years, measures the development of children aged 50 to 59 months in key areas across all nine provinces. The 2024 survey was led by the Department of Basic Education and coordinated by DataDrive2030, an impact-first investor founded by Giese.

The index serves as a reference point for those across government, business, and civil society tracking progress in early childhood development (ECD). Despite the challenges of conducting a survey of this scale, Giese emphasizes that the data is made accessible for organizations to use in motivating investment in early years programs.

Giese has learned valuable lessons throughout her career, such as the importance of storytelling to make children visible and the need to integrate solutions into existing systems. With a focus on closing the last 30% access gap, Giese aims to improve early learning programs for young children in South Africa.