Children Lead the Way Highlights from the Mid-term Evaluation

The program has implemented different programming approaches according to each country and community context to enable children and adolescents who are engaged in different forms of work, including domestic, agricultural, mining and services, to access education, to be protected, and to participate actively in their societies. These approaches include providing access to basic education through subsidies and school kits; improving the learning environment by making it friendly to children who work as well as more relevant to market realities; facilitating access to apprenticeships, vocational and entrepreneurship training; working with teachers, parents, and employers to reduce harm related to working conditions; and organizing children and adolescents into clubs and organizations where they can learn about their rights and how to advocate for them.

The program underwent a rigorous internal evaluation process at the mid-term point to measure progress against the program’s key performance indicators in the five countries and across all thematic areas. Over 3,000 children were interviewed, as well as teachers, parents, employers, government authorities and partners, to gather insights on the achievements, challenges, and ways forward for Children Lead the Way. The following highlights the key findings from the Mid-Term Evaluation.