Summary

The project aims to combat child labour in the agricultural sector, particularly in the sugarcane value chain and commercial sexual exploitation, in the regions of Busoga. It aims to strengthen the child protection system, community knowledge, and law enforcement authorities to identify, rescue, and recover survivors of child labour. The project will address gaps in legal and policy frameworks, weak enforcement, and monitoring and evaluation mechanisms. It will support education and training innovations to improve awareness, access to social protection, and evidence-based services. The project will work with the National Steering Committee on Child Labour and district sub-county and parish level stakeholders to address gaps in coordination and collaboration frameworks. The project will also enhance livelihood support for vulnerable households and young people, contributing to the overall objective of reducing child labor in the agricultural and commercial sexual exploitation sectors in Jinja and Luuka Districts, Uganda.

Challange

The project aims to tackle issues such as economic pressure on single-parent-headed families, high poverty levels, weak enforcement of child labor laws, and negative cultural practices. The earmarked districts have a high number of large families with fathers less responsible for their families' welfare, putting pressure on single parents, especially mothers. High poverty levels and low income are the main causes of child labor in the Busoga region. Agencies like the Police, child labor officers, community development officers, probation officers, and the Judiciary need improved capacity to identify and prosecute offenders effectively.

Solution

 This project will address child labour in the agricultural sector -especially sugarcane value chain, mining and commercial sexual exploitation, in the regions of Busoga.  It seeks to strengthen the child protection system, community knowledge and understanding to action against child labour.  AFHI-UG will work with the law enforcement authorities such as the District labour officers, District probation officers, District community development officers, and the police, to identify, rescue and recover survivors of child labour from the local community including addressing gaps in the legal and policy frameworks coupled with weak enforcement; weak Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) mechanisms to support tracking and reporting on child labour issues; and also support education and training innovations aimed at improving the low levels of awareness to foster improved knowledge and understanding of stakeholders to tackle child labour issues. AFHI will work towards improving access to social protection, and evidence-based services including livelihood enhancement for child labour at district level. Empowering communities to take charge and address the negative norms surrounding child education through engaging cultural and religious institutions to promote new positive norms that support child rights. 

Long Term Impact