Abu Dhabi Announces World-First Thriving Child Index to Advance Young Children’s Wellbeing

Abu Dhabi, 25 February 2025: Global experts have gathered in Abu Dhabi to highlight the transformative power of data-driven insights in improving the lives of children and families, as part of the third edition of the Abu Dhabi Child Data Symposium, organized by the Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority (ECA).

The Symposium, which brought together international experts in child wellbeing data and science and government partners at the Vogo Hotel, was convened under the theme of “Harnessing Child Data to Shape Scalable Societal Change.”

The coming together aimed to spark discussions around data driven innovations in the field of ECD and saw the announcement that the ECA will develop a landmark initiative: The Thriving Child Index. The index will provide a comprehensive, cross-sectoral approach to measuring child wellbeing, answering the critical question ‘How do we know children are thriving?’

The Symposium featured sessions by local and global speakers, including HE Sana bint Mohamed Suhail, Minister of Family and Director General of ECA, as well as a keynote by His Excellency Ahmed Tamim Al Kuttab, Member of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council and Chairman of the Department of Government Enablement, and talks by His Excellency Qassim Al Hashemi, Executive Director of Beneficiaries Affairs at the Abu Dhabi Social Support Authority, Dr Friederike Schüür, Chief of Data Strategy & Governance at UNICEF, Dr Jonathan Rothwell, Principal Economist at Gallup, and Cassandra Favager, Director at Deloitte New Zealand. They discussed the importance of quality data, data governance, and the development of data-driven strategies to improve early childhood outcomes.

Currently, child wellbeing is assessed through different lenses, with health organizations prioritizing medical wellbeing, education bodies assessing learning outcomes, and social services focusing on family support – this is what the Thriving Child Index will seek to address. It will do so by creating a unified framework to ensure that child wellbeing is not measured through a single metric but takes into consideration the different aspects that make up a child’s life and development. The ECA will be collaborating with key government agencies and experts on this Index.

Speaking on the importance of data in Early Childhood Development, Her Excellency Sana bint Mohamed Suhail, Minister of Family and Director General of Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority said: “At ECA, our vision was and still is that every young child can f lourish 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 part of the ECA’s World Early Childhood Development (WED) Movement, an initiative which brings together global experts, partners, and disruptors for innovation to advance Early Childhood Development in Abu Dhabi and beyond. By sharing insights, fostering collaborations and driving impactful initiatives, the WED Movement aims to build a better future for children around the world.

The annual Symposium concluded with a call to continue conversations around use of data to advance Early Childhood Development, encouraging attendees, speakers, and leaders in the space to look at how innovating with data can help every child thrive.

About Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority, The Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority, established in 2019, promotes optimal child development and wellbeing, from the early stages of pregnancy to the age of eight. We influence policies, inform decision-making through research, incubate innovative ideas, all while enabling the Early Childhood Sector and navigating the impact it’s making. We focus on Health and Nutrition, Child Protection, Family Support, Education and Early Care. Our vision is that every young child can flourish to their full potential in a safe and family-friendly environment.