1 How are Tongan Children Developing? Results from the second national census and policy recommendations for better child development in Tonga This policy brief presents findings from the second national census of children’s early development in Tonga; the Tongan early Human Capability Index. First conducted in 2014 and then again in 2017, results provide a snapshot of the current status of early childhood development in Tonga, demonstrate how children’s development has changed over time, highlight factors that are playing an important role in influencing children’s outcomes across the country, and provide policy recommendations for ways forward in order to provide all Tongan children with the opportunity to reach their developmental potential. The importance of investing early When children thrive in their early years, fuelled by adequate health care and nutrition, interactive and supportive stimulation, and protection from harm, they are able to reach their full developmental potential as adults and successfully participate in economic, social, and civic life. Investment in young children, therefore, not only benefits the children of today, but has a direct impact on the human capability, stability and prosperity of nations in the future. Previous studies in Tonga have demonstrated a lack of parental and wider community awareness regarding the importance of the first few years of a child’s life for their later health, development, learning, behaviour and achievements throughout life. Recognising that early investment is needed to achieve the best outcomes for children and indeed the country, the Tongan Ministry of Education and Training, with support from the World Bank, sought to improve the learning outcomes of Tongan children through implementation of the Pacific Early Age Readiness and Learning (PEARL) Programme. Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized