Child-related and Family Policy During Covid-19: Analysing Developments and Constructing a Database


The link for the online version will be sent the day before the event.

This presentation will outline the database on child-related policy during COVID-19 and present some preliminary findings from an analysis of developments. Part-funded by UNICEF Innocenti, the database, which is intended to be made public later this year, covers over 40, mainly high-income, countries. The period of analysis is from March to December 2020 and 6 policy fields are covered: measures to combat child hunger or improve food supply; financial subsidies and supports to families with children; access to early childhood education and care; children’s access to education; children’s access to health services; parental leave from employment for childcare. As well as describing the selection and construction of indicators and policy fields and presenting some cross-national patterns in the policies adopted and the capacities of countries to mobilise a child-focused response in COVID-19 times, the presentation will outline the challenges encountered and draw implications for the conceptualisation and measurement of child and family policy during COVID-19 and beyond.