The Child Friendly Cities Initiative Experiences and results of a global partnership World Urban Forum Rio de Janeiro 23 March 2010.

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The Child Friendly Cities Initiative Experiences and results of a global partnership World Urban Forum Rio de Janeiro 23 March 2010 Slide 2 2 Outline Overview of CFC Concept History Components Highlights of 15 years of the global Initiative UNICEFs experience with CFC strategies and focus regional trends examples lessons learnt Slide 3 3 A Child Friendly City is The embodiement of the CRC A city, system of local governance, including communities, where all children: Participate in decision-making Have equal access to basic services Have spaces to play freely and safely Enjoy a pullution free and safe environment Are protected from abuse and exploitation Participate in cultural and social events Child friendly is a process and a comparative label Slide 4 4 Why CFC? Urbanization: In 2002, 50% of children lived in cities By 2025, 6 out of 10 children will live in cities and towns New trends in urbanization High pace of urbanization vs. limited capacity of cities to respond to childrens need Trend in decentralization local governments undertaking responsibility on childrens rights and social services CFCs offer an opportunity to strengthen local democratic governance Slide 5 5 History of CFCs Mayors Defenders of Childrens Rights 1992 The Child Friendly Cities Initiative (CFCI) 1996 The CFC Movement flourishes Other initiatives (UN Habitat Safer Cities; Growing up in Cities) The CFC Secretariat in established in Florence -2000 Millennium Development Goals 2002 World Fit for Children Building a CFC: A Framework for Action - 2004 Slide 6 6 Framework for Action: A reflection of international consensus Slide 7 7 Nine building blocks - components 1. Participation by children and youth 2. A child friendly legal framework Slide 8 8 3. A city-wide childrens rights strategy Slide 9 9 4. A child friendly institutional framework a coordinating mechanism 5. City policy impact assessment Slide 10 10 6. A childrens budget 7. A regular State of the Citys Children Report Slide 11 11 8. Making childrens rights known 9. Independent advocacy for children Slide 12 12 What about the CFC strategy? A strategy that accelerates implementation of the UN CRC and MDGs Creates synergies with national efforts on this front Ensures improvements in child well-being indicators Provides opportunities for community involvement Promotes equal access to participation Strengthens democratic governance accountable and transparent institutions and management civil societys participation Fosters partnership and coordination Slide 13 13 Highlights of 15 years of CFC Initiatives Focus on environment and safety in richer countries, and on basic services on poorer countries The nine building blocks act as guide but are not always implemented in a comprehensive way Participation is a cross-cutting element sometimes limited to participation for suggestions on city planning tendency not to involve children in assessment (Spain and France) Different approaches: Local planning (municipal plans of action) Mayors Defenders (Honduras Pact for Children Accreditation mechanisms vs. smaller scale initiatives Accreditations: Spain, France, Italy, Brazil, Philippines Initiatives: Vancouver, Amman, Denver, Bam, Moscow Slide 14 14 Highlights of 15 years of CFC Initiatives Examples of implementation of specific blocks of the CFC Framework Participation Italy (Turin, Ferrara, Cremona) Child Friendly Legislation Kawasaki (Japan), Philippines Policy or strategy on child rights Christchurch, Abbotsford, Hubson Bay Coordinating mechanism - Ammans Executive Agency (Jordan) Impact assessment Brazil, Spain, France A childrens budget Ecuador, Barra Mansa (Brazil), Italy State of the Childrens Report France, Spain, Philippines Awareness raising France (CRC day) Independent voices for children Russia Existence of regional networks (CFAP, ENCFC, CPI Initiative) Slide 15 15 UNICEFs work on CFC Slide 16 16 Diversity of focuses and strategies Urbanisation Urban Basic Services Programme CFC Secretariat taking over in 2002-05 109 country offices and more than half of national committees reporting urban work strong focus on child protection recent review of 16 countries - active urban work Decentralisation and strengthening of local governance Local planning approach Accreditation mechanisms Focusing on one city CFC as an explicitly stated label or strategy Strategies in big and smaller towns MTSP (2006-2013) local authorities and CFC Slide 17 17 State of the art on UNICEF and CFC Review of: 21 Programme Countries (Country Offices) 20 Industrialised countries (National Committees) Through data at Secretariat, questionnaires and annual reports An increased interest (before and after 2003) from 3 to 14 Country offices from 3 to 6 National Committees UNICEF as a leader (all but 2) and main supporter LA and national Govt. as key partners Slide 18 18 State of the art on UNICEF and CFC An integrated comprehensive strategy based on the 9 building blocks All are based on CRC target and almost all on MDGS (all but 2 in Cos) Policy impact assessment and childrens budget - weaker components Industrialised countries adopt a nation-wide approach (all but two) while 9 COs Certification is a dominant strategy in industrialised countries (only 6 in Cos) Emphasis on indicators (10 Cos and 8 NC) Slide 19 19 UNICEF offices active in CFC UNICEF offices interested in initiating CFC or currently in initial steps UNICEF offices engaged in municipal planning for children UNICEF offices with past experience Slide 20 20 Geographical distribution Preliminary results from Desk Review on CFC Slide 21 21 Regional trends Currently prevalent in middle higher income countries Industrialized countries 13 countries working specifically on CFC 3 countries with strong functioning accreditation systems (France, Spain, Switzerland) Others with past and emerging experiences(Italy, UK,Netherlands) Others expressing interest (Australia, Japan, Ireland) CEE/CIS Six countries (different levels of implementation) Emerging interest Local planning (Georgia, Serbias Municipalities Fit for Children) Russia as a leading experience Slide 22 22 Regional trends Latin America Strong focus on decentralisation and strengthening of good governance Local planning and data Regional effort to replicate successful strategies The Brazilian Seal of Approval exported Partnership with UNDP: Infancia y gobernabilidad At least 8 countries active in the region (mostly led by UNICEF) Smaller towns are privileged but emerging efforts in big cities (PUC Brazil) From small-scale efforts to comprehensive and integrated strategies (Peru, El Salvador, Guatemala) Child protection focus (Costa Rica, El Salvador) Accreditation mechanisms prevailing (Brazil, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras) Slide 23 23 Regional trends Sub-Saharan Africa Very few countries Community based work (OVC) and child protection efforts South Africa - past and upcoming efforts Past and Emerging interest Nigeria and Angola Regional interest to strengthen urban data collection and situation analysis WCAR Asia Four countries Leading effort - the Philippines Urban work and local planning (India) More recent work (Vietnam) Slide 24 24 Regional trends MENA Six countries Emerging interest (Syria, Egypt, Morocco) Gradually moving toward de-centralisation Rural settings (Sudan, Morocco) vs. big cities (Amman) Building after destruction (Iran) Slide 25 25 A few examples UNICEF/NYHQ2006-1316/Versiani Slide 26 26 Brazil The Seal of Approval An example of CFC certification Social mobilization and communication strategy with a strong monitoring and evaluation component Progressed is assessed every two years The Seal certificate 3 areas of assessment social impact, policy management, social participation (qualitative and quantitative) Broad partnership - UNICEF calls, guides and certifies municipalities Comparison of indicators in participating and non participating municipalities IMR decreased by 16.4% compared to 12.1% neonatal mortality decreased by 8.5% against 1.6% Adapted to bigger cities (Platform for Urban Centres) Slide 27 27 The Philippines Child Friendly Movement Bringing national policies to the local level through partnerships and monitoring End of 1990s Child Friendly Movement UNICEF supports Filipino NPA- 24 goals and criteria to be attained survival, development, protection and participation 4 gifts for children Local data base Presidential award Increasing involvement Better performance of CFCs in child well-being Religious groups School Media Agriculture Social Services Health/ Nutrition Private Sector Justice System Slide 28 28 Greater Amman Municipality The 9 building blocks in one city 2005 The Mayors interest UNICEF as a supporting entity stronger in initial phases Executive Agency for a Child Friendly City CFC Policy Implementation of the 9 building blocks Focus on marginalised children Strong child participation component: Elections of four municipal councils now extended to nine 28,000 children involved Capacity building of council members Planning based on childrens recommendations Recently children consulted for the Master Plan of Future Amman Slide 29 29 Spain Ciudades amigas de la infancia Initiated in 2004 UNICEF Spain, National Association of Municipalities Certification system Certificate lasts 4 years but confirmed every two Criteria: Plan/strategy/coordination mechanism Childrens council or other participation mechanisms Official adhesion Evaluation by an inter-institutional committee Monitoring and assessment through indicators Slide 30 30 France Ville amie des enfants Initiated in 2002 UNICEF France and French Mayors Association Network of 170members Commitment to becoming child friendly by cities Five areas/goals: Every day life of children Child Participation programmes Knowledge of childrens rights Promotion of international solidarity Partnership with UNICEF New Programme of Action and related tools Slide 31 31 Lessons learnt A response to urban challenges; a strategy to strengthen good governance A versatile approach for different settings Large cities and smaller towns Adapts to urbanization trends Communities and rural settings Useful in both low and middle-income countries limited resources vs. impact on indicators Attractive label leverages partnerships with local authorities, as well as other stakeholders CFC Framework a useful advocacy and programming guide but needs to focus more on the process (tracking it) Slide 32 32 Lessons learnt Enables to mobilize citizens and children builds democratic governance Sustainable achievements by Ensuring ownership by local authorities Involving society at all levels, including children A good balance between process and results Implementing a Human Rights Based Approach Accreditation systems an effective mechanism Promote positive competition among cities faster achievement of results Ensure visibility Trigger awareness raising processes Facilitate the implementation of a comprehensive strategy (building blocks) Slide 33 33 The Secretariat and on going research efforts The CFC research aims to improve the conditions of children living in urban settings by enabling communities and cities to better assess the degree to which they are fulfilling children's rights and to look self- critically at the governance structures and processes that are designed to support families and their children In practice, participatory template tools are produced to be adapted to the specificity of local contexts Partners include: Innocenti Research Center-UNICEF Childwatch International City University of New York CERG Bernard Van Leer Foundation Slide 34 Thank you!!! Dora Giusti Child Protection Specialist [email protected] http://www.childfriendlycities.org