The Structural Determinants of Child Well-being: An Expert Consultation Hosted by the UNICEF Office of Research

This paper describes the outcomes of an expert consultation on The Structural Determinants of Child Well-being hosted by the UNICEF Office of Research. The two-day meeting brought together twelve participants to discuss the underlying causes of child well-being and develop an initial framework to consider the impact of structural factors on children’s lives and the inequalities that too often shape (and limit) their futures. In response to persistent inequities, there is a global imperative to address the underlying causes of child wellbeing. There is a large and still to be exploited potential for structural interventions to improve the lives of children in low and middle-income countries. Some sectors, notably health, have moved ahead in defining a structural determinants approach to programming and have a growing evidence base to draw upon. Other sectors have begun to follow but still have to make their case with the policy community. Until now, there has been very little work that brings together insights from analysing structural determinants of child wellbeing across all its dimensions in a consistent and rigorous way. Measurement challenges also need to be overcome to build a strong data base for action.