Scaling early childhood — what has not changed through covid19
Keeping the long term view in mind
Editor’s Note: This piece is a thought piece on the state of early childhood as a result of COVID-19 which accompanies the launch of Early Insights’ report by the author. We thank Rushda for a reflection on the topic and how she is seeing the sector through one of the most significant upheavals in a generation. You can access the Early Insights report here.
On a clear, bright, pre-covid19 afternoon in Pune, India, municipal officials and staff, students from architectural colleges, the hospital team, and representatives of various civic organizations congregated at a local public hospital that serves pregnant women, infants, and young children. We had gathered to celebrate the completion of small-scale project — a collaboration between the Pune Municipal Corporation, the hospital, local organizations and experts, and the Bernard van Leer Foundation.
On the surface of it, the intervention was of a small-scale and temporary. It focused on cleaning and beautifying open spaces, clearing illegally-parked vehicles, making exteriors vibrant, and introducing playful elements around hospital buildings. Masons put in place simple concrete blocks to serve as permanent seating for pregnant women or young mothers, their relatives, and kids waiting outside the hospital buildings.
The intervention was part of Pune Urban95, a joint initiative between the municipality and the Foundation, aimed at transforming Pune into a city friendly for babies, toddlers and their families.
Urban95 is the Foundation’s global initiative spanning over 76 cities worldwide. It is based on the belief that urban design and planning can have a major influence on early childhood. It asks city decision-makers the question: what would you do differently if you were to look at a city from the height of 95 centimeters — the average height of a healthy 3-year-old child?
Under Urban95, Pune’s example would unwittingly go on to become a critical one during covid19. Designed and implemented only a few weeks before covid19, it brought home the importance of such interventions in an era of social distancing norms. Families vising the hospital could now have access to pleasant, open waiting spaces, instead of being crammed inside closed spaces with little ventilation. Other Indian cities, all with substantial population of young children, would learn from the experience and adapt it for their contexts as the pandemic unfolded.
As of 2020, about 35% of India’s population live in urban areas, and projections indicate that this population will nearly double by 2050. India is home to the largest number of children in the world. Nearly 138 million children in India are under the age group of 0 to 5, of which 36.6 million children of the age group live in urban areas. Of these, 8.1 million children in the age group of 0 to 6 live in urban slums.
While young children and their families use the public realm more than any other group, urban design for them is the least deliberate. Decision-makers and urban designers and planners need to consider the neighborhood-scale, focusing on making the immediate proximity of young children playful, green, safe, inclusive, and accessible, and locating necessary services close to their homes. With covid-19, it becomes even more important to consider access to green, open spaces that will support young children and families, and provide kids with opportunities to play and explore.
In 2019 the Smart Cities Mission, a national urbanization programme at the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, and the Foundation entered into a partnership to launch an early childhood-centric competition for Indian cities, based on ongoing Urban95 initiatives in the “lighthouse” cities of Bhubaneswar, Pune, and Udaipur. The World Resources Institute came on board as a technical partner for the competitive process.
Under the Smart City Mission, around hundred cities are formulating projects to retrofit inner-city areas, redevelop selected areas, or planning new infrastructure. Such large-scale urban development, renewal, and redevelopment programmes provide an immense opportunity to help cities incorporate solutions that will support early childhood development.
Sixty-three cities competed for technical assistance and funding under the two-step Challenge process, comprising of an initial application phase and a semi-final stage. Of the 63 cities that applied, the jury selected 25 cities for the semi-final stage based on the strength of their proposals. During the second stage,, cities worked with technical teams to further refine their proposals, test ideas on the ground to improve urban life for infants, toddlers, and caregivers, and build community support through pilot projects. .
Implemented ideas included:
- reclaiming public spaces for play and exploration;
- making it easier to perform caregiving activities in public spaces;
- ensuring that public spaces are inclusive of the most vulnerable;
- refurbishing amenities in Anganwadis, government-supported childcare centers, and other locations providing services to families;
- creating safer walking experiences for caregivers, babies and toddlers, including through increasing connections with public transport;
- enhancing opportunities for young children to connect with nature; and
- engaging communities to ensure that interventions are sustained.
The process was not without obstacles. With covid-19 came unforeseen delays in on-the-ground implementation of physical projects and cities had to curtail activities because of restrictions.
However, as both the Challenge and covid19 unfolded, cities and experts realized that the goals of the Challenge could aligned with covid19 priorities and vice-versa, such as more green, open spaces for all residents, an emphasis on pedestrianization and active transport, improved access to key services, including health services, and a focus on effective communication and support networks. In addition, all partner organizations involved — the Mission, World Resources Institution and the Foundation — acknowledged covid19 realities, and worked closely with cities to think through built environment solutions that would benefit families and young children during covid19.
For example, Jabalpur in central India incorporated play spaces in a covid-19 vaccination center, a sensory trail and nature-based areas in an existing park, a space for breastfeeding at a busy bus exchange, and worked with the community to transform a derelict park. Hubballi-Dharwad, a city in the southern part of the country, implemented a priority queuing and pram-share system at a busy bus interchange, along with floor-based play installations in bus waiting areas.
In another example, Rourkela in eastern India built breastfeeding facilities in public parks and markets, equipped several Anganwadis, or public day care centers, with outdoor play spaces, and engaged women’s groups to create play spaces, including in urban slums. It also created a shaded pedestrianised area alongside a busy road.
The 10 winning cities were announced in January 2022 from the first cohort of 25 cities, and will receive additional support for scaling up interventions.
Beyond the 10 cities, a large number of cities are now interested in adopting the lens of early childhood. Many of the initial applicants have indicated interest in following through on their original ideas to make their cities and neighborhoods child- and family-friendly.
As the Nurturing Neighborhoods initiative moves into its next phase, here are reflections on key learning from the past few years:
Partnership with government helped achieve scale and sustain it. Early on, we relied on the Foundation’s strategy to work with government in the quest to achieve scale. Along the way, we realized that established government platforms can not only support testing and implementing ideas quickly and at scale, but they can also help adjust priorities and provide avenues for additional support in case of unforeseen challenges, such as covid19.
Implementation was key. While a focus on ideas and innovation is important, all partners realized that we could not take our eyes of the implementation ball. Demonstrating results on the ground worked wonders for cities that implemented and saw buy-in from their communities, which in turn motivated decision-makers to replicate solutions, especially when the solutions related to immediate challenges faced by young children and families during covid19.
Competition worked, as did recognition, especially during tough times. Competing cities showed creativity, inspired others, and accomplished goals, even during the pandemic. Knowing that they would be ranked amongst peers and their work showcased nationally ensured support from top city leaders, who appreciated the recognition and became the driving force in implementing solutions.
The work, however, is not done. Moving forward, continued focus, commitment, and grit from all stakeholders is critical. Still reeling from continuous covid19 waves, cities would have to deliver sustained results and demonstrate benefits to citizens as they go about their daily lives. Citizens would have to align on consistently demanding quality early childhood services, infrastructure, and programming. Experts and organizations would have to continue to facilitate learning and the sharing of ideas, including those that adapt to local realities or externalities. Ultimately, all involved would have to work together towards a common goal. A good start for all children.
The Bernard van Leer Foundation is an independent foundation based in The Netherlands and working around the world. Our mission is a good start for all children. We believe that giving all children a good start in life is both the right thing to do and the best way to build healthy, prosperous, and creative societies.
Rushda Majeed leads the Bernard van Leer Foundation in India. She is passionate about partnerships at the intersection of early childhood, government, and scale. You can reach her at @rushdamajeed.
