Equitable research design 

Barcelona

According to recent World Health Organization data, heat claims more than 175,000 lives annually in Europe—a figure that is expected to climb as global temperatures continue to rise. The built environment of cities, including the prevalence of concrete and tall buildings that block ventilation and trap air, contributes to extreme heat. Heat waves have become a significant threat to health and well-being, and children, pregnant women, and the elderly are especially vulnerable. Barcelona has integrated cooling centers into existing infrastructure to adapt to and mitigate the impacts of extreme heat on human health. But the city discovered that mothers and young children were not using the designated cooling spots. In response, the city conducted interviews and consultations at child care centers and nurseries to better understand the risks and the needs these families face. This unique research approach allowed city planners to work directly with the population that needed support to capture accurate, authentic information. It is a powerful example of the importance of observational research techniques and adapting traditional practices to better serve goals, reach a target demographic, and emphasize inclusivity.

Innovative participatory research methods 

London

In London, in 2019, the mayor launched Breathe London, a program to place air quality monitors in children’s backpacks. Students received backpacks equipped with air sensors and attended lessons on air quality led by Imperial College London and Dyson engineers. The data from the wearable sensors allowed researchers to pinpoint where children are exposed to elevated pollution levels and measure how different transportation methods affect exposure. It revealed that children experience higher pollution exposure on their way to and from school. Through data from their own children, parents saw firsthand the level of emissions their cars produced as they sat in traffic. As a result, almost one-third of families switched from driving to walking or cycling for their school commute. This initiative not only enabled real-time air quality monitoring but also taught children about environmental protection while actively engaging them in the research process.

Investing in strategies to better understand the needs of young children

Varna

Observational data is a valuable tool for understanding young children’s needs that urban planners and designers might otherwise overlook. Varna collects observational data to identify how existing infrastructure may create a harsh or challenging environment for children. Through this approach, the city discovered that water fountains in community spaces, parks, and playgrounds were too high for young children to reach. By studying how young children interact with their environment, the city pinpointed specific areas for improvement. Urban designers and planners must carefully consider how their decisions impact children at every developmental stage.

Collaboration across departments and programs

Cape Town

Lina Liakou, Global Director of City Engagement & Practice at the Resilient Cities Network, spoke about institutional collaboration and how resilience thinking can help bridge priorities, address gaps, and encourage collaboration between departments. She highlighted how Cape Town integrated a resilience plan and restructured its department infrastructure to create a dedicated directory for future planning and resilience. Cape Town connected resilience with the city’s overall strategy and operational plan, communications, performance monitoring, and capital programs. Every project within each department had to go through a resilience lens. Ultimately, this created accountability and transparency and helped the city identify priorities and measure impact. Improved coordination and communication between municipal departments is essential to building capacity and bringing child-focused projects to fruition.

Support from a range of urban leaders

Bratislava, Tirana

Cities should also think strategically about seeking support from other leaders, so the mayor has allies in championing initiatives. As Adam Freed, Principal at Bloomberg Associates, noted, gaining buy-in from both political leaders and technical experts is crucial. For example, Bratislava works with its vice mayor on green infrastructure initiatives while also engaging the secretary general’s office and city manager. Tirana established the role of chief child officer to oversee projects related to children and ensure that the mayor’s vision to build a more child-friendly city is disseminated across departments and becomes an integral part of the city’s agenda.

Innovative, impactful partnerships to boost capacity

Bielsko-Biala

As a member of UNICEF’s Child-Friendly Cities Initiative (CFCI), Bielsko-Biala has brought together NGOs and local government institutions to coordinate its children’s activities and programs. CFCI is a global program that builds inclusive, child-responsive cities and promotes children’s rights at the local level. It has been implemented in 40 countries since it was established by UNICEF in 1996. The initiative cultivates a network of municipal governments, actors in the private sector, civil organizations, and children themselves to build capacity and help programs grow sustainably. UNICEF supports cities throughout the process by providing guidance to municipal leaders, drawing on a network of experts, and facilitating the exchange of knowledge between cities.

Building public-private partnerships

New York City

Shapiro also spoke about building public-private partnerships to scale up efforts and how cities can act as both facilitators and regulators for private institutions that provide services to residents. A prime example is New York City’s bicycle share program, which pioneered an innovative financing model and impact investing strategy. After the New York City Department of Planning completed a feasibility study, it partnered with a bike share company to execute the program. While other cities launched bicycle share programs that relied purely on sponsorship or donations from a company that used the bikes to advertise their brand, New York created its Citi Bike program using private capital. Goldman Sachs provided a loan to the bicycle share company as seed capital to begin the program, and Citibank came in as a sponsor who paid for the bicycle branding. The Goldman Sachs loan was not repaid through a subsidy to New York City but rather by the operating revenue for the program, which helped ensure that the program was affordable for users but also able to generate revenue. The sponsorship payments from the city were included within the Goldman Sachs loan, so the city did not have a considerable outlay and avoided high up-front costs. The program has significantly reduced traffic and emissions, improved access and connectivity to transit, and created local jobs. While New York is a large city, smaller cities could adopt this model by balancing increased sponsorship with lower operating revenue requirements.

Municipal bonds can drive more impactful investing

Lisbon

Cities must think creatively about identifying revenue streams so they can tap into up-front financing. One area to explore is social impact bonds, which have not gained as much traction in Europe as in the United States. With social impact bonds, private investors fund social programs through outcome-based financing agreements. Investors fund the programs upfront and are repaid by the government if the program achieves its measurable goals. This shifts the financial risk away from the public sector while incentivizing effective, measurable social interventions. Capitalizing on multi-year bonds produces a recurring revenue stream that helps cities catalyze their investment and secure funding up front. Bloomberg Associates is partnering with Lisbon to help the city explore whether it is feasible to issue a municipal green bond for stormwater management to create green infrastructure above ground and provide recreational benefits that align with climate adaptation goals.

Branding to attract financial support

New York City

Freed also discussed how creative branding can build public support, attract funders, and shape compelling investment narratives and highlighted New York City’s MillionTreesNYC initiative. The program set and achieved an ambitious goal to plant 1 million trees across the city’s five boroughs through a public-private partnership between the New York Department of Parks and Recreation and the nonprofit New York Restoration Project.  According to Freed, the campaign had a polished design and memorable taglines, and a unique “Million Tree” identifier was assigned for each planted tree. This approach helped build brand awareness and demonstrate the power of partnerships. The identifiers helped investors see tangible evidence of their impact and spur additional financial support.

Using data to target conversions of asphalt to green spaces

Paris, Bratislava

Paris is using data to implement its OASIS program, which aims to transform asphalt-covered schoolyards (which absorb heat and make it dangerous for children to play) into thriving green spaces. The mayor saw an opportunity to convert schoolyards into cooling centers that provide shade and heat relief for children and can be opened up to other vulnerable communities on weekends and during summer. The program replaces asphalt with bushes, trees, and benches to create shade and cool overheated playgrounds. Given the city’s high population density and the fact that most residents live near a school, these environmental interventions increase access to green space for all Parisians. With over 700 potential schoolyards available, the city needed to determine where interventions would have the most significant impact. Bloomberg Associates collaborated with officials in Paris to analyze multiple layers of data, including whether schoolyards were located in areas with many children, whether the surrounding neighborhoods lacked parks and accessible green spaces, and whether the communities had high rates of pre-existing health conditions. By layering this data, Paris narrowed its list of potential schoolyards and identified priority schools to begin the program. The European Regional Development Fund financed its pilot phase through its Urban Innovative Actions Initiative. The program is currently cofunded by the City of Paris (the lead agency for the project), the State of France, and the Seine Normandy Water Agency.

Similarly, Bratislava aims to transform unused concrete areas into green spaces. The city has created comprehensive data maps analyzing tree canopy cover, air pollution, heat levels, and flood risks. Using this data, officials hope to identify priority conversion sites, such as underutilized medians and concrete triangles throughout the city.

Involving citizens in devising and voting on budgets

Budapest, Riga

Budapest and Riga have established participatory budget programs in which residents submit project ideas and vote on proposals. According to city representatives, these projects often focus on improving quality of life and safety, addressing climate concerns, and creating more community spaces. Participatory budgets demonstrate clear public support for child-friendly and climate-related projects while giving residents a sense of ownership over their city and local issues and helping them recognize the direct results of their participation. A truly child-friendly city encourages broad public involvement in approaches to support children.

Creating pathways for children to express themselves and their ideas

Varna

Valuing children’s perspectives is vital for inclusive urban planning, yet their voices are often missing from decision-making processes that directly affect them. Cities participating in the Alliance are transforming how children are perceived in civic life and creating pathways for more inclusive governance. For example, Varna transformed a former Communist Party building into a creative space showcasing children’s ideas. The Children on the Square exhibition, supported by a partnership between a child development foundation and the city of Varna, encourages imagination and presents young children‘s ideas for creating a more beautiful city with strong community bonds and spaces for play and exploration. The space features drawings, notes, and advice from children that prompt adults to recognize children as active, engaged community members who can develop innovative and practical approaches to improve the city for everyone. The exhibition is organized by the Kaleidoscope Foundation for Child Development and financially supported by the Culture Fund of the Municipality of Varna.

Increasing safety and community connection near schools

Bratislava, Tirana, Riga

Bratislava struggles with car dependency, and many children are driven to school despite living close by. The City for Kids pilot program involves students, parents, other residents, and teachers who work together to develop road safety interventions and establish safe crossing zones near schools. The program aims to expand spaces in front of schools, giving children and their caregivers more room to gather during drop-off and pick-up times while creating opportunities for community connection. Though there was initial resistance, these improved crossroads and junctions have become essential parts of the city‘s infrastructure. 

Tirana has also created dedicated lanes with low-speed zones outside schools where parents can drop off their children through its Streets for Kids program. The redesigned areas ensure that children have a safe route to school and a protected space to play. In Riga, the Safe Way to School project has united key services—including departments responsible for mobility and infrastructure, a public transport company, and police—to increase patrols and control speeding around schools. This collaboration shows how municipal institutions can effectively work together toward a shared goal.

Eco-friendly transit

Tirana, Budapest, Riga

During the communist era, bicycles were the primary mode of transportation in Tirana due to a ban on car ownership. After recent increases in driving and car dependency, however, the city is focused on reestablishing cycling as a viable alternative. The Bicycle Mayor of Tirana is an advisor to the mayor who helps promote cycling and gives cyclists a voice in decision-making. He leads by example and promotes cycling culture by riding his bicycle to events throughout the city while encouraging residents to use bike lanes and pedestrian areas. The city has also developed cycling academies to teach toddlers and young children about traffic rules so they can ride safely in dedicated cycling lanes.

Budapest has set concrete goals to become a greener, healthier city for children. The city aims to significantly reduce CO₂ emissions by 2030, transform formerly car-dominated spaces into green areas, implement its sustainable mobility plan to encourage walking and cycling, and create more space for playgrounds and community use. Riga has made robust investments in improving public transportation and connectivity by creating more bicycle lanes and syncing the railway network with other transit hubs such as buses, trains, and trolleys.

Community spaces

Barcelona, Milan, Tirana

The Barcelona Superblocks initiative closes interior streets to cars and diverts traffic to prioritize pedestrians and cyclists. It reallocates public space and makes the city more pedestrian-centric by deemphasizing cars and prioritizing the creation of green spaces, bike lanes, and playgrounds. These changes contribute to better health outcomes, more environmental sustainability, and increased social interaction. The city aims to create 500 superblocks by 2030, transforming about one-third of its streets into green streets.

Milan partnered with Bloomberg Associates to implement Piazza Aperte, a program to build a series of public plazas across the city and provide open, green, and pedestrian-friendly recreational areas in underserved communities. Using data-driven analysis, the city selected plaza locations in neighborhoods that would benefit most from reduced traffic and improved mobility. The program closes off spaces that were once dedicated to car parking and uses simple interventions such as street furniture, paint, and thoughtful design to create more space for pedestrians and bicyclists. These changes have resulted in vibrant public spaces that benefit local businesses while enriching the social lives of residents of all ages.

Tirana transformed a once car-dominated roundabout into a vibrant community space. Skanderbeg Square has become one of the city’s largest playgrounds and an open space where residents can enjoy time outside in a lively and welcoming environment. By relocating parking underground, the project ensures the square remains mostly car free. This redesign reflects a fundamental shift in urban priorities, elevating the needs of pedestrians and children while placing cars lower on the scale.