Unified Framework: Abu Dhabi Unveils Thriving Child Index For Children's Wellbeing

The Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority (ECA) has introduced the "Thriving Child Index," a new initiative aimed at providing a comprehensive method to measure child wellbeing. This index seeks to answer the question: "How do we know children are thriving?" The announcement took place during the third Abu Dhabi Child Data Symposium, where experts discussed data's role in enhancing children's lives.

The Thriving Child Index aims to address how child wellbeing is currently assessed through different perspectives. Health organisations focus on medical wellbeing, education bodies evaluate learning outcomes, and social services look at family support. The index will create a unified framework that considers all aspects of a child's life and development rather than relying on a single metric.

During the symposium, various sessions were led by both local and international speakers. Notable figures included Sana bint Mohamed Suhail, Minister of Family and Director-General of ECA, and Ahmed Tamim Al Kuttab, a member of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council. Other speakers were Qassim Al Hashemi from the Abu Dhabi Social Support Authority, Dr. Friederike Schüür from UNICEF, Dr. Jonathan Rothwell from Gallup, and Cassandra Favager from Deloitte New Zealand.

Sana bint Mohamed Suhail highlighted the importance of data in Early Childhood Development. She stated, "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 prioritise 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 ECA will work with key government agencies and experts to develop this index. The goal is to ensure that child wellbeing is measured comprehensively across various sectors. This collaboration aims to provide better insights into children's needs and improve early childhood outcomes through data-driven strategies.

The symposium was organised under the theme "Harnessing Child Data to Shape Scalable Societal Change." It brought together international experts in child wellbeing data and science alongside government partners. The event emphasised how quality data and governance can drive improvements in early childhood development.

The Abu Dhabi Child Data Symposium forms part of ECA’s World Early Childhood Development (WED) Movement. This initiative gathers global experts, partners, and innovators to advance Early Childhood Development both locally and globally. By sharing insights and fostering collaborations, WED aims to build a better future for children worldwide.

The symposium concluded with encouragement for continued discussions on using data to enhance Early Childhood Development. Attendees were urged to explore how innovative data use can help every child thrive.

With inputs from WAM