How to Analyze, Track and Influence Public Budgets for Children’s Rights

Developed as part of the How to Child Rights series by Child Rights Connect, in collaboration with Save the Children, this Guidance equips civil society organizations and other stakeholders with practical knowledge and tools to understand, analyze, track, and influence public budgets from a child rights perspective. The Guidance was developed by Lubna Iskandar, drawing on consultations with civil society practitioners.

Public budgets are one of the clearest indicators of a government’s priorities and play a critical role in realizing children’s rights. They determine whether children have access to essential services such as health care, education, social protection, disability services, and safe environments in which they can grow and thrive. This Guidance supports evidence-based engagement to promote more transparent, equitable, accountable, and child-responsive public spending through practical technical guidance and advocacy approaches.

The Guidance consists of three complementary tools, designed to be used either independently or as a step-by-step learning journey. Together, they help users understand public budgets, conduct child rights budget analysis, track public expenditures, and translate evidence into effective advocacy for improved investment in children’s rights.

The Guidance is primarily intended for civil society organizations working on children’s rights and/or public finance. It is also relevant for policymakers, parliamentarians, National Human Rights Institutions, academics, and other stakeholders interested in child rights public budgeting.

Explore the Guidance

Tool 1

An Introductory Guide for Civil Society

Provides an introduction to child rights public budgeting, explaining the key concepts, public budget processes, and the role of civil society in budget analysis and accountability.

Tool 2

How to Conduct Public Budget Allocation and Expenditure Analysis Using a Child Rights Lens

Provides practical methodologies, frameworks, and templates to analyse public budget allocations and expenditures and identify how government spending affects children.

Tool 3

How to Develop Effective Public Budget Advocacy Strategies and Plans

Supports civil society organizations in translating budget analysis into effective advocacy strategies to influence public policy, budgets, and accountability for children’s rights.