
About
The Child Health Initiative operates as a collaborative partnership, with a focus on global and national advocacy, research, and programme implementation. It is hosted at and coordinated by the FIA Foundation
The Global Picture
Safe and sustainable transportation is gaining recognition as essential for delivery of the Global Goals development priorities. But children and young people are still being pushed to the margin when it comes to strategic urban and road traffic planning. The results are devastating, unnecessary and preventable: road crashes are still the leading global cause of death for children and young adults aged 5 – 29.
Efforts to combat climate change and to achieve the objectives set by the Paris Agreement and the Habitat III ‘new urban agenda’ slowly progressed and being realised. Yet safe active mobility, although vital for achieving climate objectives, remains a neglected, under-invested area.
Our Mission
To build a coalition of country and donor support for the objective of a safe and healthy journey to school for all children by 2030 through advocacy and implementation of ‘safe system’ transportation design and urban planning.
Our mission is being delivered by promoting safe footpaths, cycle lanes and lower vehicle speed limits, along with legislation and interventions for safe motorcycle helmets, seat belt use and accessible, clean air and safe and affordable public transport.
This is being done in alignment with Global Goal targets 3.6 (road safety); 3.9 (air quality); 11.2 (safe & sustainable urban mobility); and 11.7 (safe, green & accessible public space).
Our Objective
Our objective is to provide a voice for the particular needs and rights of children within transportation and urban mobility policymaking. We aim to highlight the serious and costly health impacts on the young, of unsafe roads and air pollution, and to demonstrate, through applied research, programmatic support and technical assistance, the many effective available solutions.