Program Proposals

Session Format

Each 90-minute session brings together 3-6 presenters from different locations and backgrounds to plan together and share the time. In a typical panel, each presenter will have 10-15 minutes to present, saving about 30 minutes total for discussion. You may also propose to contribute a different type of activity within your allotted time, such as a hands-on experience or other non-conventional activities. If you have any questions or ideas, please contact us at [email protected].

Who Can Apply

• You! The World Forum community welcomes both first-time and experienced presenters, and values your authenticity and resilience over perfection. 
• We welcome presenters with different levels of comfort in English, the primary language of the event, and we invite you to incorporate other languages into your session. Unfortunately, due to cost, we are unable to offer official translation services at this time. We welcome creative ways to address this. 
• Proposals submitted as a team will be considered only if they align with World Forum core values, meaning the group of presenters represent different regions, perspectives, expertise and experiences.
• If you submit as a team of presenters from one organization or region, you may be expected to share your 10-15 minutes of presentation time. 

Important Dates

• Stay tuned! – Important conversation in the WoFo Globale Café to discuss respecting Malaysian protocols, laws and customs while fostering community and a global exchange of ideas.
• April 30, 2025 – The last day to submit a proposal and to apply for fellowship funding. We also invite you to pursue outside funding with our World Forum Fundraising Kit.
• July 31, 2025 – We’ll notify you whether or not your proposal has been accepted or put on a waiting list.
• August 31, 2025  – Deadline to accept or decline your participation. It’s also time to check your passport expiration, apply for visas if needed (including transit visas), and begin to seek funding, if needed. 
• December 31, 2025 – Deadline to register as a presenter. 
• December 2025-February 2026 – We will schedule a time for each group of co-presenters assigned to the same session to meet online, share ideas and jointly plan the session.
• April 14-17, 2026 – World Forum on Early Care and Education in Kuala Lumpur. Presenters agree to participate in the full event, not just the day of their session.  

Topics

We welcome a broad range of topics on young children. To help us coordinate the breakout sessions, please choose up to three topics related to your proposal:

• Child Development, Health and Well-Being
• Children Impacted by Conflict, Violence, or Refugee Status
• Children’s Rights
• Climate, Sustainable Development and Early Childhood
• Curriculum, Pedagogy and Care
• Design and Nature: Environments for Children
• Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
• Family Engagement
• Including and Supporting Children with Disabilities
• Leadership in Early Childhood
• Management, Finance and Funding

• Men in Early Care and Education
• Multi-Site Programs
• Play
• Policy, Advocacy and Equity
• Race and Racism
• Research, Trends and Innovations
• Technology and AI
• Wellness for Adults
• Workforce and Staffing
• Other topic not listed

Presenter Agreements

By submitting a proposal, you agree to the following terms: 

• As a presenter, you are expected to participate in the entire four days of the World Forum, from April 14-April 17, 2026. 
• You may submit more than one proposal, but to expand perspectives, the World Forum makes every effort to ensure each person presents in only one breakout session.
• You are responsible for obtaining all necessary visas and travel documents well in advance of the event. We recommend beginning the process no later than October 2025. 
• You agree to meet the co-presenters in your session online to finalize your topic and plan how you’ll share the time.
• No one is paid to present at the World Forum. 
• To request fellowship funding from the World Forum, you must apply by April 30, 2025. Requests always exceed available funds. If you need financial support to attend, please see our Fundraising Toolkit, compiled by prior World Forum participants. 

*Important Information for All Presenters

The World Forum welcomes proposals on all topics. When presenting in Malaysia, please be aware that some topics are considered sensitive and are prohibited in public spaces, including our event.

We are committed to creating meaningful dialogue and will collaborate with presenters to navigate the local context effectively. As with any international event, we encourage participants to familiarize themselves with local customs and laws.

To learn more about Malaysia’s cultural context and how we can facilitate an enriching exchange of ideas, we will invite you to join a World Forum Café discussion at a later date. All proposal submitters will receive an invitation. Stay tuned!

If you have specific questions or concerns, we’re available for individual conversations.

We look forward to working together to create a thought-provoking and respectful World Forum Foundation event in Malaysia.