Does Living in a Child Friendly City Improve Children’s Lives?
In Spain, a report shows that Child Friendly Cities are more likely to implement child-focused policies than other municipalities, and significant progress has been observed in access to essential services
21 May 2025 - The wellbeing of children and adolescents has declined since the pandemic, even in the wealthiest countries. In Spain, child poverty rates remain among the highest in Europe. In this context, the Child Friendly Cities initiative offers a framework to uphold children’s rights. Implemented in 321 local authorities across Spain, the network now covers nearly half of the country’s child population.
But is the initiative truly making a difference in children’s lives? And can this be measured empirically?
To answer these questions, UNICEF Spain commissioned an impact evaluation covering the period 2012–2023, conducted by KSNET. The aim was to assess and compare changes in municipalities that are part of the network with those that are not.
“One in every two children in Spain lives in a Child Friendly City. The potential for impact is enormous. We felt it was important to understand the real effect on children’s lives,” said Lara Contreras, Director of Advocacy, Programmes and Partnerships at UNICEF Spain, during the presentation of the evaluation results on 21 May.
The webinar also featured Pilar Fraile Caravaca from the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces (FEMP), who emphasised the importance of involving children from the outset and creating safe spaces for participation. Elena Comino Corchero, from the Ministry of Youth and Children, highlighted the need to listen to young people and recognise them as active agents in order to uphold their best interests — a key focus of the Ministry’s work.
Impact, Design and Implementation Evaluations
“What difference does it make for a child to live in a Child Friendly City?” asked María Ángeles Espinosa from IUNDIA. “We had many indicators, but we now wanted quantitative data to empirically demonstrate improvements in children’s wellbeing. That’s what this evaluation provides.”
The study was structured around three areas: impact and outcomes, initiative design, and implementation. “When we talk about impact, we’re not just identifying changes — we’re attributing causality. It’s not enough to observe change; we need to establish that the initiative caused it,” explained Pablo Tucat, evaluator at KSNET.
A mixed-methods approach was used, combining quantitative and qualitative data, including surveys and interviews with professionals, children, and adolescents from both participating and non-participating municipalities. The study also used a matching technique to compare similar local authorities with and without recognition.
Governance and a Rights-Based Approach
One of the most notable findings is that Child Friendly Cities are more likely to implement child-focused policies than non-participating municipalities. Tucat noted greater integration of children’s rights in key public policies, including safe school mobility, child mental health, and inclusion of children with disabilities.
Regarding efficiency, 57% of local authorities consider their financial and technical resources sufficient. However, resource limitations affect all municipalities, particularly smaller ones.
The evaluation also examined sustainability and the factors that support it: social commitment, political and institutional backing, and resource availability. “Sustainability clearly depends on sufficient resources. Strategic profiles prioritise political commitment,” said Tucat.
Progress on the Five Core Objectives of the Initiative
- The Right to Be Valued, Respected and Treated Fairly
- 75% of children in Child Friendly Cities feel they are treated fairly.
- Nearly 70% believe their local authorities are making efforts to support the most vulnerable.
- There has been a steady increase in adapted sports programmes for children with disabilities (+2.4 points per year).
- The Right to Be Heard
- All Child Friendly Cities have child participation bodies, compared to just 27% of non-recognised municipalities.
- However, only one in four children fully agrees that their local council listens to them and explains how their input is used. This can lead to frustration, often due to bureaucratic constraints and lack of staff, especially in smaller municipalities.
- Each additional year in the initiative is associated with:
- + 10% of proposals arising from children and adolescents
- + 6% of proposals self-managed by children
- The Right to Essential Services
- This area shows the most progress: 87.4% of local authorities report that all children have access to quality services.
- Notable achievements include increased enrolment in early childhood education (ages 0–3) and expanded mental health services for children and adolescents.
- The Right to Live in Safe and Clean Environments
- Seven in ten Child Friendly Cities believe their children live in safe and clean environments.
- Longer participation in the initiative correlates with more children feeling safe and with more schools implementing pedestrian safety measures.
- The Right to Family Life, Play and Leisure
- 76.7% of local authorities report that children enjoy this right, and 82% believe children can participate in the social and cultural life of their municipality.
Are Child Friendly Cities Transforming Children’s Lives?
To answer the question that inspired the study, Tucat was clear: “We believe the answer is yes. Challenges remain — particularly around inclusion and resources — but there has been significant progress in capacity building and positive impacts across various dimensions of children’s rights.”
He added that UNICEF Spain’s initiative has been instrumental in raising awareness of children’s rights, improving access to social services, and mobilising resources for previously overlooked areas — notably, child-focused planning. “This is a necessary initiative. It’s important to recognise its value and the tangible changes it brings,” he concluded.
