Are children at the center of policies and what data supports their needs in multi-sectoral programming: exploratory analysis of the Western Cape, South Africa
1
School of Public Health, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa
2
Health Systems Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa
3
Institute for Life Course Health Research, Department of Global Health, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):A3606
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
Global initiatives for child health and wellbeing have promoted accountability tools, such as dashboards, as a way to improve data-driven policy decision making across sectors.1-3 However, little is known about how child wellbeing data are used across sectors at subnational level. This study set out to explore how child health and wellbeing indictors and linked data are used to drive change through multisectoral policy processes in the Western Cape, South Africa.
METHODS:
This exploratory qualitative study used multiple data sources collected between October 2023 and May 2024, including 15 key informant interviews, a desk review of over 30 government policy and planning documents, and non-participant observation of four multisectoral meetings. Data were analysed using a hybrid inductive–deductive approach, guided by the health policy triangle framework.
RESULTS:
The Western Cape Government (WCG) includes child wellbeing indicators within policy frameworks, supported by strong sectoral data ecosystems, particularly in health and education. However, routine indicators for early childhood development remain limited. Dashboards are widely used within individual sectors to inform decision-making, but are not routinely used across sectors. Views on the value of a multisectoral child wellbeing dashboard were mixed. While formal multisectoral structures exist and use data at strategic levels (e.g., thematic management committees convened by the Premier’s Office) and operational levels (e.g., Child Death Reviews), there are no formal mechanisms to share data on individual children across sectors, limiting holistic responses to children’s needs.
CONCLUSIONS:
Despite a strong data environment and established multisectoral structures, child wellbeing monitoring and data use in the Western Cape remain fragmented. Improved alignment between policy priorities, routine data systems, and reporting structures, alongside a coherent, consistently tracked multisectoral indicator set, could strengthen accountability and support more effective, evidence-informed decision-making for children.
Global initiatives for child health and wellbeing have promoted accountability tools, such as dashboards, as a way to improve data-driven policy decision making across sectors.1-3 However, little is known about how child wellbeing data are used across sectors at subnational level. This study set out to explore how child health and wellbeing indictors and linked data are used to drive change through multisectoral policy processes in the Western Cape, South Africa.
METHODS:
This exploratory qualitative study used multiple data sources collected between October 2023 and May 2024, including 15 key informant interviews, a desk review of over 30 government policy and planning documents, and non-participant observation of four multisectoral meetings. Data were analysed using a hybrid inductive–deductive approach, guided by the health policy triangle framework.
RESULTS:
The Western Cape Government (WCG) includes child wellbeing indicators within policy frameworks, supported by strong sectoral data ecosystems, particularly in health and education. However, routine indicators for early childhood development remain limited. Dashboards are widely used within individual sectors to inform decision-making, but are not routinely used across sectors. Views on the value of a multisectoral child wellbeing dashboard were mixed. While formal multisectoral structures exist and use data at strategic levels (e.g., thematic management committees convened by the Premier’s Office) and operational levels (e.g., Child Death Reviews), there are no formal mechanisms to share data on individual children across sectors, limiting holistic responses to children’s needs.
CONCLUSIONS:
Despite a strong data environment and established multisectoral structures, child wellbeing monitoring and data use in the Western Cape remain fragmented. Improved alignment between policy priorities, routine data systems, and reporting structures, alongside a coherent, consistently tracked multisectoral indicator set, could strengthen accountability and support more effective, evidence-informed decision-making for children.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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