Gladsaxe municipality, Denmark, and Hafnarfjörður municipality, Iceland
Gladsaxe, with a population of approximately 70,000, and Hafnarfjörður, with about 30,000 residents, work strategically with youth engagement by aligning it with their broader SDG agenda. Both municipalities have also become part of UNICEF's Child Friendly Cities Initiative to foster an environment that is favourable to children and youth involvement.
Anchoring children and youth engagement in municipal strategies, aligned with SDGs
Gladsaxe has integrated the SDGs into its municipal strategy for 2018-2022 and 2022-2026. This strategy comprises six cross-sectoral goals, one of which is “Children and Young People Shaping the Future”. This goal is consistent with several SDGs, including Quality Education (SDG 4), Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11), Climate Action (SDG 13) and Partnerships for Action (SDG 17).
In Hafnarfjörður, the municipal strategy is also aligned with the UN Global Goals, with an emphasis on the wellbeing of residents. Becoming recognised as a child friendly city by UNICEF is an important policy priority for the municipality.
Child Friendly Cities Initiative (CFCI)
In 2019, both municipalities joined the UNICEF-led Child Friendly Cities Initiative. This initiative sets out to support municipal governments in their efforts to build child friendly cities by integrating the voices, needs and rights of children and young people into municipal policies, programmes and decisions. CFCI promotes real involvement and influence of children and young people in municipal processes and activities (UNICEF, 2022).
To align its efforts with CFCI, Gladsaxe has developed a model addressing various areas of engagement and interaction with children and young people.
Figure 2. A model for implementing CFCI in Gladsaxe municipality. Source: Gladsaxe municipality, 2023.
- The outer circle represents involvement in the local community. The goal is to empower children and young people to be active citizens by participating in the development of Gladsaxe as a sustainable city. This can be achieved through their involvement in projects, campaigns, municipal political processes and leisure activities in local communities.
- The next circle focuses on involvement in their daily lives, including day care centres, schools and educational settings where children spend a significant share of their day.
- The innermost circle represents involvement in the individual’s life. While the municipal authority has limited influence over this circle – as it is primarily rooted in family settings – efforts are being made to ensure that the most vulnerable children and young people have their voices heard within the system.
All departments and units within the municipal organisation have explored ways to modify their approaches in these three areas to better listen to and involve children and young people.
In Hafnarfjörður, the Youth Council is closely tied to the CFCI project. The Youth Council members play a significant role by participating in the municipal steering committee meetings with representatives from the entire administration, and then shares insights with their schools. They gather feedback and input from peers and communicate it to the committee, creating a feedback loop.
Specific activities implemented within the framework of CFCI
In Gladsaxe:
- Conducting safety walks in challenged areas
- Improving conditions for children in (foster) care.
- Dedicating the Gladsaxe Day 2023 to Children and Youth Shaping the Future and inviting young people to contribute to the Gladsaxe Day programme
- Organising public debates between children and politicians.
In Hafnarfjörður:
- Implementing gender studies and sex education in schools based on children's feedback.
- Allowing children to submit ideas for municipal improvements through the “Better Town for Children” initiative.
- Establishing a Youth Assembly and Youth Council that propose changes to the town council.
Figure 3. Timeline and key steps steps in the implementation of the CFCI in Gladsaxe. Source: Gladsaxe municipality, 2023.