Children as Social Actors: A systematic review of literature on children participation in communities in Africa

Using a systematic review methodology, this research examines the concept of children as social actors in Africa. Sixteen studies were included, providing a critical analysis of the methodology of how children in Africa participate in their communities. A thematic content analysis was employed to critically analyse the papers within the scope of the methodology in use.

Findings reveal a gap in knowledge regarding children’s participation in Africa. Specifically, there is a dearth of literature on the subject matter from Africa as less than ten percent of over one million literature on children’s participation were from/about Africa. For the existing body of knowledge, only four countries featured prominently in the studies excluding a larger part of the continent. Moreover, these literature are mainly led by Global North scholars, showing a disequilibrium in terms of knowledge production.

This research calls for deliberate steps towards encouraging knowledge production led by African scholars on the one hand and a contextual approach to the subject of child participation. The framing and understanding of the subject should reflect participatory and user-led approaches. Research on child-participation will benefit from the use of multi-disciplinary approaches rather than a linear approach due to the complexity of the subject matter. While this research provides a broad understanding of children as social actors, further research in specific thematic areas with nuances in gender, location and social conditions will provide more specific insights and understanding.