Building the Momentum of Change: Final Report Midline Evaluation Children’s Future Project in Zambia (2025)

The Children’s Future Program is a five-year initiative implemented in Petauke District, Zambia, to protect adolescents from abuse and improve access to quality education through community-driven social change, with a focus on reducing school dropout, teenage pregnancy, and child marriage. This light-touch midline study assessed program relevance, effectiveness, impact, and sustainability after three years of implementation across child protection, education, adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights (ASRHR), and social transformation.

Using a mixed-methods approach—including document review, qualitative interviews and focus group discussions, rubric assessments, and a household survey—the study found the program to be highly relevant and well aligned with community needs, with strong participation among households and adolescents. Key results show substantial reductions in teenage pregnancy and child marriage compared to baseline, improved ASRHR knowledge, increased school attendance, reduced child labour, and more positive attitudes toward gender equity. Strengthened collaboration among schools, health services, traditional leaders, and government institutions has been central to these achievements.

However, challenges remain, including early sexual debut without adequate contraceptive use, social stigma toward adolescent contraceptive access, discrimination against teen mothers and children with disabilities, and economic hardship affecting families and program sustainability. Overall, the program is on track to meet its 2028 targets, but long-term success will depend on strengthening community self-reliance, expanding livelihood support, and reinforcing youth-led and gender-transformative initiatives.