Bebbo, UNICEF's innovative digital parenting platform, showcases transformative access to knowledge through ICTs, democratizing evidence-based early childhood development guidance for families worldwide. This free mobile application, recognised as a Digital Public Good, bridges critical information gaps by delivering comprehensive, culturally-adapted content on child health, development, and early learning directly to parents and caregivers. In collaboration with governments and local stakeholders, Bebbo fosters behaviour change by improving parental knowledge in responsive caregiving, mental health, nutrition, and child safety.
With almost 1.4 million downloads, Bebbo has achieved over 10% penetration of target parent populations in seven countries, while maintaining an outstanding 87% user satisfaction rate among more than 24,000 surveyed users. Through its integration with national health systems in 15 countries, Bebbo ensures that parenting guidance and health information (vaccinations, health checkups etc.) aligns with local policies, enabling seamless access to information. Bebbo’s offline functionality and multilingual design further break barriers for parents in remote and underserved communities. This success has catalysed planned expansions in more countries in 2025 in collaboration with national governments.
Bebbo demonstrates how digital solutions can bridge knowledge gaps, empower communities, and foster equitable access to critical parenting support, setting a benchmark for inclusive digital innovation.

www.unicef.org/eca/Bebbo-parenting-app

• Albania
• Bulgaria
• Belarus
• Greece
• Kyrgyzstan
• Republic of North Macedonia
• Montenegro (Republic of)
• Republic of Moldova
• Romania
• Serbia
• Slovakia
• Tajikistan
• Ukraine
• Uzbekistan

• Women
• Refugees and internally displaced people
• Remote and rural communities
• Children under 5
• New born
• Pregnant women
• Parents of young children

WBebbo’s open-source code and flexible deployment models allow replication and customisation globally. It has been successfully tailored to address the specific needs of refugee families in Ukraine, providing support to displaced parents and children during crises. Similar adaptations have been done in each of the implementation countries to align to government policies and programmes including vaccination and health checkups. Additionally, Bebbo has been locally branded and adapted as Foleja in Kosovo, aligning with national policies and cultural nuances. Beyond its current presence in 15 countries, the app will soon launch as Wawamor in Ecuador, Merhaba Bebek in Türkiye, and Babuni in Bangladesh in 2025, further showcasing its scalability and adaptability.

Bebbo’s sustainability is rooted in its co-ownership with national governments and ministries, ensuring alignment with country-specific policies and relevance to local needs. Open-source by design, Bebbo benefits from a global community of developers being willing for enhancements to the app. This collaborative approach reduces reliance on any single organisation while enabling ongoing technical viability and adaptability to evolving community contexts.

Support from international donors and foundations invested in parenting and ECD further strengthens Bebbo’s sustainability. These partnerships provide resources for enhancements and expansions, ensuring that the app remains a vital, high-quality tool for families. Through this combination of open-source principles, strategic collaborations, and long-term government commitment, Bebbo is positioned for sustainable growth and enduring impact.

Bebbo actively promotes the values of WSIS by ensuring inclusive and equitable access to information and knowledge. It aligns with WSIS’s vision of a people-centred, inclusive, and development-oriented Information Society by: - Bridging the Digital Divide: Bebbo provides free and offline-accessible parenting resources, ensuring that remote, marginalized, and low-connectivity communities have access to crucial information on child development and well-being. - Fostering Universal Access to Knowledge: By delivering multilingual and locally tailored content, Bebbo enhances digital inclusion and supports WSIS’s commitment to equal opportunities for all, including refugees, displaced families, and persons with disabilities. - Empowering Women and Gender Equality: Bebbo plays a gender-transformative role by encouraging father involvement and empowering mothers with knowledge that supports their children’s development, aligning with WSIS’s goal of women’s empowerment through ICTs. - Encouraging Open Access and Innovation: Recognized as a Digital Public Good, Bebbo’s open-source technology supports innovation, allowing governments and communities to adapt and customize the app to meet their unique needs. - Supporting Sustainable Development Goals: By integrating with national health and education systems, Bebbo enhances early childhood outcomes, contributing to WSIS-aligned SDGs, including quality education (SDG 4), good health and well-being (SDG 3), and reduced inequalities (SDG 10). - Strengthening International Cooperation: In line with WSIS’s call for multistakeholder partnerships, Bebbo’s collaboration with international organizations, NGOs, and the private sector exemplifies digital solidarity in bridging the information gap for parents worldwide.