Three briefs on data and Urban95 in Turkey

In this series of three briefs, the Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation (TESEV) reflects on lessons from the Bernard van Leer Foundation-supported Urban95 programme in Turkey that can support local governments to make better use of data in improving cities for babies, toddlers and caregivers. Available in Turkish and English.

This brief surveys the data on children that is available in Turkey and explains the problems faced by local administrations in collecting more and better data. It suggests practical solutions such as establishing standards for data legibility, establishing data management units and training employees to create a culture of data.

Though the shortfalls of many traditional playgrounds are increasingly understood, it is not feasible for a city to rebuild them all – instead they should look at how existing playgrounds, parks and public spaces can be adapted to support play and child development. This brief looks at how data on location, accessibility, existing features and play value can inform local governments’ decisions. Available in English and Turkish.

The social and economic impacts of Covid-19 on urban life showed the importance of good data for urban resilience. This brief looks at how the Istanbul municipalities of Sultanbeyli and Maltepe drew on their experiences using data in the Urban95 programme to inform nine aspects of their pandemic response, from personnel management to social support and awareness raising. Available in English and Turkish.