​Addressing Urban Inequities and Childhood

CONFERENCE REPORT: Recommendations for advancing the agenda for children and cities.

The report is based upon conversations and discussions held at Equity for Children's April 2016 "Urban Inequities and Children" Conference at The New School in New York City. Close to 100 international researchers, including CROP Scientific Director Alberto D. Cimadamore, government representatives, foundations, advocates and practitioners deliberated about underlying local challenges facing urban children.

Based on the input Equity for Children has made the following recommendations to address urban inequities and to activate children's voices in the urban agenda:

1. Reframe discussions about cities so that children are inherent stakeholders in urban planning.
2. Utilize reliable quantitative and qualitative evidence to understand the drivers of urban childhood poverty and inequality, in order to guide policy and planning.
3. Create social accountability mechanisms that promote dialogue, action and monitoring between policymakers and their constituents -- the children, their families and direct service providers.
4. Invest in quality programs that serve a greater number of children and families more effectively.
5. Think and act politically, connecting decision-makers from local and national government agencies with those within communities, in order to scale up effective and sustainable initiatives.

Visit Equity For Children to read the report in full