Amman: The advisory committee for the "Cities that Care: Towards Child-Friendly Cities" project held its second meeting on Monday at the Zaha Cultural Center, bringing together committee members and representatives of national and international partner organizations to review and approve the project's implementation framework ahead of its national rollout.
According to Jordan News Agency, the project is overseen by the Ministry of Local Administration, implemented by the Zaha Cultural Center, and supported by the Van Leer Foundation. It aims to integrate early childhood development principles into urban planning and create more inclusive cities that better respond to the needs of young children and caregivers, in line with the Urban95 program and Jordan's national priorities for local development and quality of life.
During the meeting, the committee reviewed the project's implementation framework, including the "Cities that Care Challenge" guide, challenge methodology, governance framework, evaluation mechanisms, approved urban interventions, visual identity, and implementation timeline. The framework is intended to ensure transparent and standardized implementation while enhancing municipalities' capacity to develop sustainable urban interventions that address the needs of children, particularly those aged one to five.
Committee members said the project represents a comprehensive national model to support municipalities in developing evidence-based urban policies and interventions while strengthening partnerships among government institutions, academia, and national and international organizations. They added that the initiative will help promote child-friendly cities and establish a scalable model for implementation across Jordan.
The committee approved several strategic decisions, including the launch date of the "Cities that Care Challenge" and the adoption of the challenge guide as the project's official implementation reference governing participation, evaluation, and execution.
Zaha Cultural Center Executive Director Rania Sbeih said the decisions mark the transition from planning to implementation and reflect the level of cooperation between national institutions and international organizations in developing a Jordanian model for child-friendly cities. She added that, building on the center's expertise in early childhood development, Zaha will continue working with partners and municipalities to move the initiative into the implementation phase, helping create more inclusive and sustainable cities that provide supportive environments for children and caregivers across the Kingdom.
Van Leer Foundation Jordan representative Farah Jadallah said investing in early childhood is an investment in the future of cities and communities. She noted that the "Cities that Care" project offers a practical model for integrating the needs of children aged one to five into urban planning, contributing to more responsive and sustainable cities while improving quality of life for children and families.
The committee concluded the meeting by reaffirming its commitment to implementing the project according to the approved timeline, paving the way for the national launch of the "Cities that Care Challenge" and supporting municipalities in developing innovative urban interventions that position Jordan as a regional model for integrating early childhood development into urban planning and local development policies.