New “Child Map” aims to strengthen child centred local services in Türkiye

Izmir, 8 May 2026 – A new initiative supported by the European Union and implemented by UNICEF in cooperation with the metropolitan municipalities of Ankara, Gaziantep and İzmir, together with Needs Map (İhtiyaç Haritası), a Turkish non-governmental organisation, aims to identify and respond to children’s needs in education, health and protection through a data-driven approach. The initiative also looks to strengthen collaboration between local authorities, civil society and the private sector.

Within the framework of the Accountability for Children and Advocacy for Rights (ACAR) Project, the UNICEF–İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Child Map was launched today in İzmir.

The launch meeting introduced the “Child Map” approach, which brings together locally grounded data, municipal engagement and partner coordination to help inform child-centred services and practical responses for children and families. Participants discussed how evidence can support better prioritisation, stronger local planning and more targeted cooperation among public institutions, civil society and the private sector. Paolo Marchi, UNICEF Türkiye Country Representative, said at the launch event: “The Child Map highlights areas where partners need to come together to better support children and so ensure their rights can be realized. This is key for then ensuring more targeted services for children and their families.”

In a statement, the European Union Delegation to Türkiye highlighted that the ACAR project represents a valuable contribution towards the goals set out in the Child Rights Strategy adopted by the European Commission in March 2021 to promote the rights of all children without discrimination and help prevent and combat all forms of violence against children. It demonstrates the importance of inclusive, data‑driven models in strengthening child‑centred interventions and improving local responses.

Dr. Ali Ercan Özgür and Mert Fırat, Co-Founders of Needs Map, also highlighted the initiative’s multi-stakeholder approach and the role of technology in transforming data into concrete action for children.

Roundtable discussions brought together representatives from the private sector and civil society to explore financial, technical, and field‑based solutions to address identified needs.

The initiative aims to reach 10,000 children in the pilot provinces of Ankara, Gaziantep and İzmir. It also promotes youth participation through the Young Volunteer Needs Ambassadors initiative, encouraging young people to engage in data collection and analysis processes.

The initiative is expected to inform municipal level child-centred policymaking and support locally grounded solutions.