Author: Anupama Nallari and Sarah Sabry at the Urban Hub @ Save the Children

Children in urban poor neighborhoods often face hidden inequalities in health, education, and safety that go unnoticed in citywide data. This blog highlights how cities and organizations are using localized, disaggregated data to uncover these gaps and implement targeted solutions—from mapping childcare deserts and reintegrating out-of-school children to improving air quality around schools—ultimately creating more equitable and child-friendly urban environments

Hidden child inequalities in cities

Children growing up in urban poor neighbourhoods face stark inequalities that threaten their health, education, and safety. The challenge is that these disparities often remain invisible within citywide statistics, making it difficult for policymakers to plan and target resources effectively.

However, cities and organizations are increasingly using data-driven approaches to unmask these hidden inequalities and design targeted interventions that improve the lives of children most in need.

By collecting and analysing localized, disaggregated data, city leaders and other relevant stakeholders can identify inequities, engage communities, and implement solutions that make urban environments healthier and more equitable and inclusive for children. Below are three approaches and six examples of how data is being used to drive positive change for children in cities.

Data-driven approach to increase access to childcare

For millions of families in poor urban areas, finding childcare is a major challenge. When childcare is unavailable, parents—especially mothers—struggle to work, leading to financial stress and heavier caregiving burdens. This also affects children’s early development and learning.

Mapping childcare access helps identify where services are missing. The term “child care deserts” refers to areas with too few licensed childcare providers, making it difficult for families to find care.

1.     Mapping gaps in childcare across 22 US States

The report Mapping America’s Child Care Deserts by the Center for American Progress (CAP), shows more than half of  children in 22 US states live in childcare deserts, with a significant impact on low- and middle-income, Hispanic, and rural communities. To support policymakers in addressing these gaps, CAP developed the Child Care Deserts map, an interactive tool that visualizes childcare availability across 22 states. This map (see below) allows decision-makers to identify areas with the most severe shortages, understand demographic disparities, and craft targeted solutions such as increasing funding for childcare providers, expanding subsidies, or incentivizing new childcare businesses in high-need neighbourhoods.

2.     Identifying neighbourhoods most in need of childcare in Istanbul

The Van Leer Foundation’s Urban95 programme, in collaboration with partners such as the Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation (TESEV) and Kadir Has University’s Istanbul Studies Center, employs a data-driven approach to enhance access to childcare services in Istanbul’s underserved neighbourhoods. By mapping districts based on age demographics and real estate values—used as proxies for income levels—the initiative identifies areas with high concentrations of young children from low-income families. This information is integrated into an interactive digital platform that overlays existing municipal services, including education, health, parks, and social aid (see map below), enabling decision-makers to pinpoint service gaps, plan effectively  and allocate resources efficiently.

The platform’s insights have prompted targeted interventions, such as home-visiting programs and public space improvements, addressing the specific needs of vulnerable communities. Van Leer Foundation supported Urban95 Public Life Data Framework developed by Gehl is another way to gather evidence to advocate for and improve public spaces for young children and caregivers.

Bridging service gaps for vulnerable communities through localised data

In many cities, vulnerable children and families are often invisible in official statistics, leading to gaps in delivery of essential services such as education, healthcare, and child protection. Localized data—gathered at the neighborhood level and tailored to the specific needs of marginalized communities—plays a crucial role in bridging these gaps. By identifying overlooked populations and tailoring interventions accordingly, governments and NGOs can ensure that no child is left behind.

3.   Reintegrating Roma Children in Kosovo Through Localized Education Data

In Kosovo’s Roma Mahala settlement, many children historically lacked access to formal education due to extreme poverty, displacement, and systemic discrimination. Traditional education data failed to capture the full extent of the problem, leaving these children outside mainstream schooling. UNICEF and its partners used a community-based approach, working directly with local families to collect data on out-of-school children. This localized mapping allowed them to design a targeted response—providing catch-up classes and reintegrating children into formal schools. As a result, there has been an increase from 30% (2006) up to  95% (2024) of enrolment in primary school or between 300 to 350 children from Roma Mahala on yearly basis are having a second chance to education.

4.   Addressing hidden child labour in Delhi’s garment industry

The study shows that child labour was widespread in home and factory-based garment production units in Delhi’s low-income neighbourhoods. By conducting detailed field research and engaging directly with affected families, researchers gathered critical localized data that shed light on the scale of child labour and the barriers preventing children from attending school. This data-driven approach enabled the development of targeted policy recommendations and support programs, such as after-school learning centres, vocational training, and linking migrant families to government social protection schemes, helping children transition out of exploitative labour conditions.

Data-driven advocacy campaigns and school street transformations improve air quality

According to the WHO, over 90% of the world’s children breathe toxic air daily, leading to serious health impacts such as respiratory infections, reduced lung function, and impaired brain development.[i] Cities have poorer air quality due to high concentrations of vehicle emissions, industrial pollution, and waste burning, exposing children to dangerous pollutants like fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide.

5.   Visualising air quality data on billboards

The “Billboard That Breathes,” an innovative installation designed to visually demonstrate the impact of air pollution on human health, has been utilized in various countries to advocate for cleaner air. Originally conceptualized by Jhatkaa.org in India, this six-foot structure mimics human lungs using HEPA filters and fans to simulate breathing. As it operates, the installation visibly darkens over time, effectively illustrating the accumulation of particulate matter present in the air.

Since its debut in Bengaluru, India, in 2018, similar installations, using an open access toolkit, have appeared in several Indian cities such as Delhi, Ludhiana, and Pune, as well as internationally in Romania, Poland, Serbia, and the UK. These installations have successfully heightened public awareness and sparked conversations about air quality, prompting policy discussions and encouraging governmental action for cleaner air.

6.   School Streets Initiative in Poland

In Poland, the “School Streets” initiative led by the Road Safety Partnership of Poland installed air quality sensors at five urban elementary schools, revealing concerning pollutant levels that exceeded WHO standards, negatively affecting children’s health and learning.. In Legionowo, one of the five pilot locations, NO2 concentrations peaked at an astonishing 700 µg/m³ during idling near school at drop-off and pick-up hours – nearly 30 times higher than the WHO’s recommended short-term exposure limit of 25 µg/m³. This data was used to advocate for road closures during school hours, pedestrian zones, and green buffers to reduce vehicle emissions around schools.

Take Action: Using Data to Build More Equitable Cities for Children

Harnessing the power of localized, disaggregated data is key to creating cities where all children can grow up healthy, safe, and supported. Here’s how city leaders and other stakeholders can contribute to data-driven change:

• Advocate for Data-Driven Policies – Support cities to collect and use  geographically disaggregated data and evidence, including on the most vulnerable and marginalized children, to identify and address hidden inequities in urban poor neighbourhoods through targeted policies and actions.
• Support Community-Led Data Initiatives – Partner with grassroots organizations to map and bridge service gaps and improve access to better health, education, and protection services for vulnerable children.
• Leverage Open Data Tools – Support the development and use of interactive resources like the Child Care Deserts Map and ParkScore®, to understand and highlight inequalities in your city.
• Data for Cleaner, Safer Urban Environments – Use data to advocate for and clean air, safe school zones, proximate open and green spaces, and other urban interventions that promote children’s health and well-being.

By embracing data-driven approaches, we can transform urban childhoods and ensure that no child is left behind.

Endnotes

[i] Ambient (outdoor) air pollution. (n.d.). Retrieved April 14, 2025, from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/ambient-(outdoor)-air-quality-and-health

About the Author 

This blog was written by Anupama Nallari and Sarah Sabry at the Urban Hub @ Save the Children. Many thanks to Victoria Chavez from the Van Leer Foundation and Mathias Kafunda from UNICEF for reviewing earlier versions of this blog and their valuable inputs.

The Ideas for Action Series showcases ideas for action, innovation, programmes, policies and practices that make public spaces child-friendly. Read more of our blogs here. 

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