Prospects for children: The global outlook
Featured project | An annual analysis of trends shaping the world and their impact on children

What’s next for the world’s children in the year ahead? What are the prospects for the future of child rights and well-being?
In 2021, the Office of Global Insight and Policy produced an analysis of the global trends impacting children over the following five years. As a follow-up, the Global Insight team plans to produce an analysis of the next 12 months at the start of each year. Our aim is to draw the attention of the global community to the effects of global trends and events on child rights and well-being.
Our reports look at the prospects for the world’s children based on a review of the evolving context, and it does so at a time of global crisis and rising uncertainty. COVID-19, climate change, the unwinding of democratic expansion, a shaken spirit of multilateralism – all are having a profound and lasting impact on children.
COVID-19, climate change, the unwinding of democratic expansion, a shaken spirit of multilateralism – all are having a profound and lasting impact on children.
Our latest analysis covers 2022 and highlights new trends, including slowing globalization, evolving rules and norms governing the online world, and the decline of civic space.
Many of the trends identified will be important not just in the coming 12 months, but well into the future. Whether these forces persist or whether they reverse in coming years will be critical when we look back and assess the progress made for children at this vexed and complex moment in our history.