Abu Dhabi launches Thriving Child Index to redefine child wellbeing

The Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority (ECA) has announced the development of the “Thriving Child Index,” a pioneering initiative aimed at providing a comprehensive, cross-sectoral approach to measuring child wellbeing.

According to WAM, the announcement came during the third edition of the Abu Dhabi Child Data Symposium, where international experts gathered to discuss the power of data-driven insights in improving childhood development.

The symposium, organized by the ECA, was held under the theme “Harnessing Child Data to Shape Scalable Societal Change.” It featured sessions from prominent local and global speakers, including Minister of Family and ECA Director-General Sana bint Mohamed Suhail, Member of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council and Chairman of the Department of Government Enablement Ahmed Tamim Al Kuttab, and UNICEF’s Chief of Data Strategy and Governance Dr Friederike Schüür.

Other speakers included Qassim Al Hashemi, Executive Director of Beneficiaries Affairs at the Abu Dhabi Social Support Authority; Dr. Jonathan Rothwell, Principal Economist at Gallup; and Cassandra Favager, Director at Deloitte New Zealand.

Discussions focused on the importance of high-quality data, governance, and data-driven strategies to improve early childhood outcomes.

New approach to measuring child wellbeing

Currently, child wellbeing is assessed through different lenses—health organizations focus on medical wellbeing, education bodies prioritize learning outcomes, and social services emphasize family support. The Thriving Child Index seeks to unify these perspectives into a single framework that captures all aspects of a child’s life and development.

The ECA will collaborate with key government agencies and global experts to develop the index.

“At ECA, our vision is for every young child to flourish in a safe and family-friendly environment,” Minister Suhail said. “One of our top priorities has been collecting and utilizing data to introduce necessary interventions that 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,” she added.

Global collaboration

The Abu Dhabi Child Data Symposium is part of the ECA’s World Early Childhood Development (WED) Movement, an initiative that gathers global experts, partners, and innovators 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 worldwide.

The annual symposium concluded with a call to continue conversations around using data to enhance early childhood development. Attendees, speakers, and leaders were encouraged to explore how data-driven innovation can help every child thrive.