Initiatives
Explore Child Friendly Cities initiatives around the world
Israel
Israel
The Child Friendly Cities Initiative in Israel was launched as a joint pilot initiative between the municipality of Rishon LeZion and the Israeli Committee for UNICEF in 2014. The aim of the initiative is to bring a child rights perspective into the whole structure of the municipality, with an emphasis on child participation. The initiative is…, NUMBER OF CHILDREN REACHED, : 63,000, List of child friendly cities in Israel, 1 recognized city, Rishon LeZion Embedded video follows
Italy
Italy
The Italian National Committee for UNICEF completely revised the CFCI Program in 2018 to make it compliant with UNICEF’s international guidelines. Municipalities must implement interventions based on a child-rights approach and on evidence-based policy making. As of April 2024, five cities have been recognized as Child Friendly Cities, and eight…, COUNTRY FACTS, Population:, 59,030,133, Pop. under 18:, 9,218,914, CONTACT, Federica Aguiari Head of Città amiche dei bambini [email protected], LINK, CFCI website for Italy Article on the recognition of the Municipality of Prato as Child Friendly City, RESOURCES, CFCI Brochure (Italian), Linking CRC and SDGs (Italian), Covid-19 resources for municipalities (Italian), Child Rights passport (Italian), Child & Youth Participation – options for Action (Italian), The necessity of Urban Green Space for Children’s Optimal Development (Italian), List of child friendly cities in Italy, 5 recognized cities, Trento Caprarica di Lecce Treviso Prato Empoli, 8 candidate cities, Altopascio Cislago Lecco Lipari Palma di Montechiaro Roccapiemonte Succivo Todi
Japan
Japan
The CFCI has begun to spread gradually in Japan. In Japan, preparatory work for the CFCI began in August 2016. After a two-year usefulness check of the CFCI in five municipalities (Niseko Town, Abira Town, Tomiya City, Machida City, and Nara City) starting in October 2018, the CFCI was officially launched in June 2021. As of 2024, these five…, COUNTRY FACTS, Population:, 124,630,000, Pop. under 18:, 18,055,000, CONTACT, Kayo KATO, [email protected] Japan Committee for UNICEF UNICEF House 4-6-12 Takanawa Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8607 Japan, LINKS, UNICEF Japan – Child Friendly Cities Initiative UNICEF Japan website, RESOURCES, Machida stories Machida stories, List of child friendly cities in Japan, 5 recognized cities, Niseko Abira Tomiya Machida Nara, 1 candidate city, Toyota city CFCI Japan 1 CFCI Japan 3 CFCI Japan 4
Jordan
Jordan
[Past initiative] The Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) Child Friendly Cities initiative began in 2005 when, on the recommendation of the Mayor of Amman, the Executive Agency for a Child Friendly City (EACFC) was created to improve the quality of programmes offered to children in greater Amman. That same year, a policy document entitled “Greater…, COUNTRY FACTS, Population:, 7,595,000, Pop. under 18:, 3,160,000, CONTACT, Dina Al Jamal, Chief of Youth and Adolescents Development Section United Nations Children’s Fund Jordan Country Office P.O.Box: 940043 Amman 11194 – Jordan [email protected] , RESOURCES, Youth engagement introduction [PDF], Ammam: CFCI Project Summary [PDF] UNICEF Life Skills Programme - Summary (Arabic/English) [PDF] Jeel 962 Concept Note [PDF] Jeel 962 Introductory Document English [PDF] Jeel 962 Overview Presentation English [PDF] , Jordan's child-friendly cities, 1 Recognised Municipality, • Greater Amman Municipality (GAM)
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan
[Past initiative], In Kazakhstan, as in any large and developed country in the world, many current development trends are relevant: rapid urbanization, growing local government responsibilities in the context of decentralized government and growing importance of cities and towns in the country’s political and economic systems. To safeguard the interests of every…, RESOURCES, Methodology of implementation of CFCI in Kazakhstan Study of the friendliness of Almaty city to children Forum Almaty, a city for children, 2019, LIST OF CHILD-FRIENDLY CITIES IN KAZAKHSTAN, PARTICATING & RECOGNIZED CHILD-FRIENDLY CITIES & REGIONS, Participating cities and regions:, • Pavlodar city • Aksu city, Pavlodar region • Oskemen city • Semey city • Kurchatov city • Aktobe city • Shymkent city • Kostanai city • Karaganda city • Saran city • Satpayev city • Balkhash city • Osakarovskyi rayon, Karaganda region • Abai rayon, Karaganda region • Aktau city • Atyrau city • Kokshetau city • Stepnogorsk city • Tekeli city •…, CFC recognition:, • Nurinskiy rayon, Karaganda region • Almaly rayon, Almaty city • Kyzylorda city • Ekibastuz city • Astana city, Number of children reached:, 2,170,000
Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan
[Past initiative], UNICEF Kyrgyzstan launched the Youth and Child Friendly Local Governance (YCHFLG) programme in January 2017. Since then, UNICEF has worked with 18 urban and 24 rural municipalities to introduce child- and youth-friendly governance practices and service delivery. YCFLG seeks to strengthen governments role in child and youth well-being at the level…, LIST OF CHILD-FRIENDLY CITIES IN KYRGYZSTAN, 46 CHILD-FRIENDLY MUNICIPALITIES, Cities Bishkek Karabalta Tokmok Naryn Balykchy Karakol Talas Karabalta Kara-Kul Tashkomur Kerben Kochkor-Ata Jalalabad Uzgen Osh Kara-Su Kadamzhai Batken Isfana Kyzyl-Kiya Tashkomur Kerben Kochkor-Ata Villages Kashkar- Kyshtak Gulistan Zhany-Nookat Alla-Annarov Tepe- Korgon Suzak Kurmanbek Bagysh Yrys Kyzyl-Tou Tash-Bulak Ugut Sary Bulak Kara-Bura…
Malaysia
Malaysia
UNICEF Malaysia started advocating for CFCI in 2018 and the initiative has gained a strong momentum in the past few years. Petaling Jaya was the first city in Malaysia to adopt the CFCI, and became the first Malaysian city to achieve the Candidate City status in 2022. In October 2023, Petaling Jaya was recognized as the first UNICEF Child…, between local governments, the private sector, civil society organizations and communities. CFCI offers an inclusive and comprehensive approach by using a proven methodology to identify and describe the challenges that involve all segments of the community. CFCI is also seen as a catalytic entry point in the following three key areas: data and…, to social wellbeing and participatory governance. CFCI was included in Malaysia’s Programme Strategy Note (PSN) 2022-2025, where it is stated that through the CFCI and in collaboration with wider UN engagements on sustainable urban planning and development, UNICEF will work with the Ministry of Federal Territories, the Ministry of Local Government…, COUNTRY FACTS, Population, : 32,651.600, Pop. under 18, : 9,191.400, CONTACT, Juanita VASQUEZ ESCALLON, Chief of Social Policy UNICEF Malaysia Level 10, Menara PJH, No. 2, Jalan Tun Abdul Razak, Precinct 2, 62100, Putrajaya, Malaysia [email protected], LINKS, UNICEF Malaysia website, RESOURCES, Action Plan - CFCI in Petaling Jaya City Situation Analysis - CFCI in Petaling Jaya City , List of child friendly cities in Malaysia, 1 recognized Child Friendly City, Petaling Jaya, 5 cities with memorandum of understanding, Miri Kuching South Kuching North Sibu Padawan
Malawi
Malawi
[Past initiative] The Child Friendly Communities initiative in Malawi is set to launch in two districts in the second quarter of 2021. The initiative is implemented together with the Ministry of Local Government which provides overall guidance on the implementation of the initiative at the local level. The initiative is informed by the Convention…, COUNTRY FACTS, Population:, 17,563,749 (2018), Pop. under 18:, 8,236,000 (2018 estimate), CONTACTS, Matteo FRONTINI, Chief Community Development and Resilience, [email protected] Elton EDWARD, Local Governance and Decentralization Specialist, [email protected] Community Development and Resilience Section UNICEF Malawi Mantino Complex, Area 40/31, Lilongwe 3 Lilongwe, Malawi, LINK, Child-Friendly Communities | UNICEF Malawi, RESOURCES, UNICEF Local Governance Work in Malawi [PDF] Strategy Note - Child Friendly Inclusive Resilient Communities [docx] District Development Plan Process [PDF]
Mongolia
Mongolia
The Child Friendly Community model was piloted in Khuvsgul province and the Nalaikh district of the Mongolian capital Ulaanbaatar, as part of UNICEF’s country programme 2012-2016. The programme cycle consisted of a situation analysis, planning, implementation and evaluation. The initial assessment of the situation of children and Multiple…, COUNTRY FACTS, Population: 3,447,157 Pop. under 18: 1,245,955, CONTACT, Munkhtuul Batbaatar, Chief Social Policy [email protected] United Nations Children’s Fund UN House, United Nations Street-14 Ulaanbaatar 14201 Mongolia, LINKS, UNICEF Mongolia website
Mozambique
Mozambique
[Past initiative], The Cidades Sustentáveis Amigas das Crianças (Sustainable Child Friendly Cities) initiative in Mozambique was launched in June 2017 in seven municipalities: Maganja da Costa, Manjacaze, Maputo (capital city), Montepuez, Quelimane, Pemba and Ribaué. The initiative is led by UNICEF in collaboration with ANAMM (National Association of Municipalities…, COUNTRY FACTS, Population:, 28,829,000, Pop. under 18:, 14,929,000, CONTACT, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Av do Zimbabwe 1440, Maputo, Mozambique (+258) 21 481 100, RESOURCES, Brochura Cidade Amiga [PDF], Regulamento - Cidades Sustentaveis Amigas da Crianca [PDF], LIST OF CHILD-FRIENDLY CITIES IN MOZAMBIQUE, 7 RECOGNIZED CHILD-FRIENDLY CITIES, MUNICIPALITIES, • Maganja da Costa • Manjacaze • Maputo • Montepuez • Pemba • Quelimane • Ribaué
Norway
Norway
[Past initiative], In 2016/17, through the Child-Friendly Municipalities project, the Norwegian Committee for UNICEF conducted a mapping among children, parents and leaders of leisure activities for children and young people in the region of Kongsberg, spanning seven municipalities. The intention was to identify the respondents’ views of childhood conditions in the…, Contact, Marthe S. Engedahl Focal point CFCI Legal Adviser [email protected]
