20:T494,Save the Children defines public investment in children as public spending on specific areas that directly benefit children as set out in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), particularly on social protection, health, education, child protection, emergencies and the requisite child rights infrastructure and systems. Public investment in children ensures children are prioritized in mobilizing, allocating and spending of society’s resources. In order to sufficiently and sustainably invest in children, governments have to take concrete measures to mobilize public and private, domestic and international resources. We know that the issue is not just about more money for children, but also efficient and effective use of available resources within open, inclusive and accountable frameworks. A focus on deprivation and inequity demands that we work to improve where the money goes and whom it benefits. Save the Children helped to get the first ever UN Human Rights Council Resolution on investment in child rights and the Committee on the Rights of the Child agreement to produce General Comment no 19 on public spending on child rights.21:T5ee,

This Guidance sets out a step-by-step process for carrying out Child-Centred Social Accountability (CCSA). CCSA is a rights-based and community-driven approach through which rights-holders (children, communities), often supported by civil society organisations (CSOs), use participatory mechanisms and processes to directly engage with duty-bearers (decision-makers, public officials, and/or service providers) with the aim of holding them to account for their decisions and actions.

CCSA focusses on:

improved outcomes for children in terms of fulfilment of their rights;
meaningful and ethical participation of children at every step; and
improved governance for children.

This Guidance is relevant for child-focused and child-led civil society organisations (CSOs) who want to learn more about CCSA, as