Abu Dhabi: The Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority (ECA) has unveiled the 'Thriving Child Index,' an innovative initiative aimed at establishing a comprehensive, cross-sectoral framework for assessing child wellbeing. This groundbreaking index seeks to address the fundamental question: "How do we know children are thriving?"
According to Emirates News Agency, the announcement was made at the third edition of the Abu Dhabi Child Data Symposium, where global experts convened to explore the transformative potential of data-driven insights in enhancing the lives of children and families. The symposium, organized by ECA, united international specialists in child wellbeing data and science alongside government partners under the theme 'Harnessing Child Data to Shape Scalable Societal Change.'
The event featured sessions led by both local and international speakers, including Sana bint Mohamed Suhail, Minister of Family and Director-General of ECA, and a keynote by Ahmed Tamim Al Kuttab, Member of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council and Chairman of the Department of Government Enablement. Contributions were also made by Qassim Al Hashemi, Executive Director of Beneficiaries Affairs at the Abu Dhabi Social Support Authority, Dr. Friederike Schr, Chief of Data Strategy and Governance at UNICEF, Dr. Jonathan Rothwell, Principal Economist at Gallup, and Cassandra Favager, Director at Deloitte New Zealand. Discussions focused on the significance of quality data, data governance, and the formulation of data-driven strategies to enhance early childhood outcomes.
Child wellbeing is currently evaluated through various lenses, with health organizations focusing on medical aspects, education bodies assessing learning outcomes, and social services emphasizing family support. The Thriving Child Index aims to unify these perspectives, creating a holistic framework that considers all facets of a child's life and development.
The ECA plans to collaborate with key government agencies and experts in the development of this index. Minister Suhail emphasized the role of data in Early Childhood Development, stating, "At ECA, our vision was and still is that every young child can flourish to their full potential in a safe and family-friendly environment. One of the first things we did was prioritize the collection and harnessing of data from our partners, connecting the dots to introduce the necessary interventions to give children the best start in life. The Thriving Child Index, the first of its kind in the world, will help us achieve that, and we look forward to working closely with partners and experts to ensure our young children are thriving."
The Abu Dhabi Child Data Symposium is a component of the ECA's World Early Childhood Development (WED) Movement, an initiative that brings together global experts, partners, and innovators to advance Early Childhood Development in Abu Dhabi and beyond. By sharing insights, fostering collaborations, and driving impactful initiatives, the WED Movement strives to create a better future for children worldwide.
The annual symposium concluded with a call to persist in discussions regarding the use of data to advance Early Childhood Development, encouraging attendees, speakers, and leaders in the field to explore how data innovation can help every child thrive.
