Place-based approach to support children’s development towards sustainable development goals: A scoping review of current effort and future agenda

Abstract

In 2015, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were announced with the agreement of 190 world leaders aiming for ending extreme poverty, fighting inequality and injustice by 2030. Among different approaches, investments in future generations’ capacities to thrive are key to attaining these goals. Promoting children’s thriving, however, is not a simple matter because child development is not a single state and is not determined by a single force. Promoting children’s development and capacities necessitates a multifaceted approach, and place-based interventions stand out as a promising strategy. This paper reviewed current evidence on the outcomes of place-based interventions aimed at improving children’s capacities to thrive. We found that 22 published texts that met our inclusion criteria, exhibiting a range of program effects. The review also highlighted several challenges related to implementation and evaluation. Additionally, we discussed how place-based interventions adapt in the digital age.