Children make up a significant proportion of Africa’s population, constituting approximately 48% of the overall population. As the future of the region, the assurance of their well-being is vital to the continent’s sustainable development and to the achievement of poverty alleviation, peaceful societies and economic growth. Increasingly governments in the region are acknowledging the importance of child well-being and some instruments are used across the continent to measure progress in this area.
The indicators of the MDGs have been applied throughout the continent, enabling the tracking of progress in some fundamental areas of child well-being. Their ongoing application has revealed positive advancements in some areas over the last decade. In Angola, Cape Verde, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Niger and South Africa immunisation coverage increased from 40 to 75% between 2005-2008. Under five mortality rates reduced by one third between 1990-2009, especially in countries recovering from conflict and infant mortality rates reduced by between 40-70 points in Botswana, Sierra Leone, Namibia, Swaziland and Liberia.
Nevertheless, progress made is not enough to ensure the continent meets the MDG targets by 2015, and there is some discrepancy in overall outcomes. For example, whilst increasing primary school enrolment rates have not been matched by a proportionate rise in school completion rates and whilst gender parity has improved at secondary and tertiary education levels, in some countries the trend is now adversely biased towards boys.
In the context of a post 2015 agenda, it has been stated that the consolidation of progress made and the assurance of its sustainability is a priority and one that requires commitment from governments. The African Child Policy Forum (ACPF) is a leading organisation in this area and has produced two key indexes, the ‘Child Friendliness Index’ and the’ Performance Index for Budgeting for Children’ which measure and compare governments’ commitment to the advancement of child rights and well-being throughout the continent.
The Child Friendliness Index is a composite index which quantitatively scores and ranks the performance of governments in regard to the realisation of child rights and child well-being. Emanating from the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACRWC), the term child-friendliness is based on three central pillars of child rights and child well-being: protection, provision and participation, and summarises governments’ obligations to ‘respect, protect and fulfil children’s rights’.
These three pillars are translated into three areas of government responsibility and action: the legal and policy frameworks implemented, government budgetary commitments and the efforts made to assure the participation of children in the making of decisions that affect their well-being. Due to the complexity of these three pillars, the measurement of child-friendliness takes a multidimensional approach.
The Performance Index for Budgeting for Children is also composite index which uses national budgets as an indication of true government commitment to the improvement of child rights and well-being and analyses spending on health, education, early childhood development and social protection in 52 African countries up until 2008.
Results have been published in the 2008 and 2011 reports titled The African Report on Child Wellbeing 2008: How child-friendly are African governments? and, The African Report on Child Wellbeing 2011: Budgeting for Children.
References:
The African Child Policy Forum (2011), The African Report on Child Well-Being – Budgeting for Children, Available at: http://www.africanchildforum.org/africanreport/attachements/article/47/AfricanReport2011_english.pdf
The African Child Policy Forum (2008), The African Report on Child Well-Being – How Friendly are African Governments?, Available at: http://www.africanchildforum.org/site/index.php?option=com_docman&Itemid=96&limit=10&limitstart=10
Hannah Chadwick
Wikichild Consultant
Tuesday, 17 April 2012
Friday, 13 April 2012
Week in review
Hello, glad you could join us for the Wikiprogress week in review - a handful of headlines that have caught our eyes over the last week. You can find all news articles and blog posts on the progress community in the Wikiprogress Community Portal.
Spotlight
World Bank Finds Vietnam Faces Future Urban Woes (Voice of America 09.04.2012)
The Vietnam Urbanization Report, released this week by the World Bank, warns that the rapid urbanization of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City could make home ownership increasingly unattainable for residents and cause transportation gridlock.
See more and contribute to the Wikiprogress article on progress in Vietnam
On Google
What People Google May Hint at Socio-Economic Well-Being (UCL News 05.04.2012)
A study conducted by scientists from the University College of London has uncovered a link between what people search for on Google and high per capita gross domestic product. People living in economically prosperous countries are more likely to search about the future than the past.
See more and contribute to the Wikiprogress article on GDP
On openness
Openness for whom, openness for what? (World Bank Blog 09.04.2012)
The emerging concept of ‘open development’ incorporates the use of open data to enhance transparency and accountability. It has become a topic of much interest to civil society, policy makers and development practitioners however the World Bank questions who and this openness is for.
Tweet to us and tell us your thoughts on ‘open development’ @Wikiprogress
On governance
Parliaments Still Vital to the Quest for Democracy (UN NEws Centre 02.04.2012)
The inaugural Global Parliamentary Report was released by the UNDP early this week. The report calls for parliaments to address issues of trust and to ensure a greater engagement with civil society.
See more and download the Global Parliamentary Report
On gender equality
Pakistan’s Women Remain Voiceless Amid All the Talk of War and Terrorism (Guardian 10.04.2012)
47% of Pakistan’s estimated population of 190million are women. According to the recently published State of Huaman Rights 2011, women are at risk with an estimated 120,000 pregnant women that were left without adequate nourishment and sanitary conditions following the 2010 floods.
See more and contribute to the Wikigender article on gender equality in Pakistan
We hope you will tune in the same time next week. In the meantime, if anything interesting passes your desk that you would like to see in the next Wikiprogress week in review, please tweet it to us @Wikiprogress or post it on our Facebook page.
Yours in Progress,
Philippa
Spotlight
World Bank Finds Vietnam Faces Future Urban Woes (Voice of America 09.04.2012)
The Vietnam Urbanization Report, released this week by the World Bank, warns that the rapid urbanization of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City could make home ownership increasingly unattainable for residents and cause transportation gridlock.
See more and contribute to the Wikiprogress article on progress in Vietnam
On Google
What People Google May Hint at Socio-Economic Well-Being (UCL News 05.04.2012)
A study conducted by scientists from the University College of London has uncovered a link between what people search for on Google and high per capita gross domestic product. People living in economically prosperous countries are more likely to search about the future than the past.
See more and contribute to the Wikiprogress article on GDP
On openness
Openness for whom, openness for what? (World Bank Blog 09.04.2012)
The emerging concept of ‘open development’ incorporates the use of open data to enhance transparency and accountability. It has become a topic of much interest to civil society, policy makers and development practitioners however the World Bank questions who and this openness is for.
Tweet to us and tell us your thoughts on ‘open development’ @Wikiprogress
On governance
Parliaments Still Vital to the Quest for Democracy (UN NEws Centre 02.04.2012)
The inaugural Global Parliamentary Report was released by the UNDP early this week. The report calls for parliaments to address issues of trust and to ensure a greater engagement with civil society.
See more and download the Global Parliamentary Report
On gender equality
Pakistan’s Women Remain Voiceless Amid All the Talk of War and Terrorism (Guardian 10.04.2012)
47% of Pakistan’s estimated population of 190million are women. According to the recently published State of Huaman Rights 2011, women are at risk with an estimated 120,000 pregnant women that were left without adequate nourishment and sanitary conditions following the 2010 floods.
See more and contribute to the Wikigender article on gender equality in Pakistan
We hope you will tune in the same time next week. In the meantime, if anything interesting passes your desk that you would like to see in the next Wikiprogress week in review, please tweet it to us @Wikiprogress or post it on our Facebook page.
Yours in Progress,
Philippa
Child malnutrition: the need for sustainable long-term solutions
In March of this year the head of the Food and Agricultural Organisation warned that in order to avoid a repetition of the crisis seen in the Horn of Africa in the West African Sahel region, there were two to three months left to act. At present more than one million children are at risk of severe malnutrition due to poor rainfall and a 25% decline in food production across the region, reduced flows of remittances from neighbouring countries and rising food prices (Barber R, 2012).
According to the World Heath Organisation, 7.6 million children under the age of 5 die each year, over one third of these deaths are linked to child malnutrition and approximately 40% of all deaths take place during the neonatal period (WHO, 2012). For those children who survive, the Save the Children 2012 report ‘A Life Free from Hunger’, states that iodine deficiency, a type of malnutrition is associated with a loss of 10-15 IQ points and that stunted children are predicted to earn an average of 20% less as adults than non stunted children (Save the Children, 2012).
These facts, in the context of the current crisis in Africa have severe implications for the region’s future development and reiterate the call made by officials of the Food and Agricultural Organisation in 2011 of the need for longer term solutions to famine in the region (the Guardian, 2011). Food security is a long-term issue directly linked to sustainability. The President of the African Development Bank, Donald Kaberuka, stated in 2011 “Africa is no longer a continent battling with large macroeconomic imbalances but rather micro economic issues” and that progress largely relies on sustainable development which addresses ‘inclusive growth, adaptation to climate change, management of natural resources, political management and infrastructure deficit’ (Kaberuka D, 2011).
As with any disaster, children are being disproportionately affected by famine and food insecurity and in consideration of the threats to their immediate and long-term well-being, as stated by UNICEF West and Central Africa Regional Director David Gressly, quick and decisive action is required (UNICEF, 2012).
References:
Barber R, 2012, Decisive action is needed to avoid another famine crisis, Sydney Morning Herald, 09 April 2012, Available at:http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/
The Guardian, 2011, ‘Food experts seek long-term solutions on Somalia famine, [Accessed: 09.04.2012], Available at:http://www.guardian.co.uk/
Kaberuka D, 2011, ‘Africa and the Brave New World’, President of the African Development Bank, Statement at the Society for International Development Conference, Available at: http://www.afdb.org/fileadmin/
Save the Children, 2012, A Life Free from Hunger: Tackling Child Malnutrition, http://www.savethechildren.
UNICEF, 2012, ‘UNICEF races to prevent a major food crisis in the Sahel’, February 24 2012 Available at: http://www.unicef.org/
World Health Organisation (WHO), 2012, Children: Reducing Mortality, Fact Sheet No. 178, February 2012, http://www.who.int/
Hannah Chadwick, Wikichild
Friday, 6 April 2012
Involvement of civil society in choosing complementary indicators
A recent submission to Wikiprogress includes a document from the The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) on the importance of civil society in choosing complimentary indicators (to GDP) of well-being.
The opinion document was presented at its 479th plenary session, held on 28 and 29 March 2012 (meeting of 29 March), the European Economic and Social Committee adopted the following opinion by 172 votes to 5 with 12 abstentions. It is intended to be in an input for upcoming events RIO+20 and the 4th OECD World Forum.
The document provides a series of recommendations/conclusions to further involve civil society including:
Also contained in the document is an outline of:
The opinion document was presented at its 479th plenary session, held on 28 and 29 March 2012 (meeting of 29 March), the European Economic and Social Committee adopted the following opinion by 172 votes to 5 with 12 abstentions. It is intended to be in an input for upcoming events RIO+20 and the 4th OECD World Forum.
The document provides a series of recommendations/conclusions to further involve civil society including:
- The EESC would argue that the complex path leading to a new definition of well-being and the progress of societies – beyond economic growth alone – cannot be separated from concurrent European policies to tackle the renewed impact of the economic and financial crisis.
- The gap between economic policies at both national and European level and policies for well-being and social progress has widened considerably. However, given the now widespread adoption of indicators complementary to GDP by official national statistical services, the possibility of narrowing this gap is linked to the capacity to process the large quantities of information available in terms of public knowledge and awareness.
- The EESC emphasises its willingness to act as a meeting place between organised civil society and official European bodies as part of a participatory decision-making process to identify and design indicators of progress for the European Union.
Also contained in the document is an outline of:
- the complex path from economic growth to progress of societies,
- ways to make the progress of societies the new benchmark,
- the gaps in information, consultation and participation in the process of preparing progress indicators, the barriers and ways to overcome them.
Access the full document here.
6 April 2012 Week in Review
Spotlight: UN High Level Meeting on Happiness and Wellbeing
On Monday, the United Nations hosted a High level meeting on Happiness and Well Being Defining a New Economic Paradigm and put happiness on the global agenda.
Speaking at the meeting, Bhutan’s Prime Minister Jigmi Y. Thinley said:"The GDP-lead development model that compels boundless growth on a planet with limited resources no longer makes economic sense. It is the cause of our irresponsible, immoral and self-destructive actions. The purpose of development must be to create enabling conditions through public policy for the pursuit of the ultimate goal of happiness by all citizens."
See more and contribute to the Wikiprogress article on Happiness
Where Art, Sport and Development Meet (All Africa 03.04.2012)
Rwanda has seen phenomenal growth over the last 18 years according to a variety of indicators. An interesting measure, not normally considered in this blog, is the growth of music and sport. According to this article, there have been more musical compositions created over the last ten years than in all the previous forty.
See more and contribute to the Wikiprogress article on progress in Rwanda
On human development
In Singapore, taxi diver earns $3000 a month (The Nation 03.04.2012)
Singapore gained independence around the same time as Nigeria, however the two countries are poles apart on the Human Development Index. This article details the many different ways in which Singapore has progressed and questions has the country developed with equality.
See more and contribute to the Wikiprogress article on progress in Singapore
On different kinds of progress in Aceh
A return to Aceh admits hope for peace and prosperity (World Bank Blog 02.04.2012)
Aceh is recognised internationally for the devastating Tsunami that tragically swept through the town leaving a behind a path of destruction. This article looks at the violence and poverty that plagued Aceh long before the Tsunami and the positive developments over the last five years.
See more and contribute to the Wikiprogres article on progress in Indonesia
On gender equality
Two thirds Young Arab Women remain Out of Workforce (Gallup 03.04.2012)
There is a consistent gender gap across the 22 Arab countries and territories, according to Gallup’s labour force participation data. About 1 in 3 young Arab Women between the ages of 23 and 29 participate in their national labor force compared to 8 in 10 young Arab men.
Contribute to the topic by creating a new article in Wikigender on Women's Access to Employment in the MENA Region
Thursday, 5 April 2012
The Arab Knowledge Report 2010/2011: Why focusing on Arab children and youth is necessary for the future of the region
The Arab Knowledge Report 2010/2011, carries on from the 2009 report of the same name and calls for the building of a knowledge society. The report emphasises the need to invest in the region’s youth, starting from early childhood, to enable them to build capacity, confront challenges and to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development throughout the region.
Children aged 15 years or less constitute 45% of the total population of the Arab region whilst young people aged 15-24 years, account for approximately 21%. In line with relevant literature, these figures indicate the potential for a future demographic dividend for the region which if capitalised upon, will further assist economic growth due to the improved ratio of productive workers to child dependents in the population (Ross J, 2004). Nevertheless, in order for a demographic dividend to materialize, the well-being of today’s children, tomorrow’s adults’ needs to be ensured. To become productive members of society individuals need a good start in life which includes, but is not limited to, effective social, emotional, mental and physical development, as well as access to education.
As documented by the report, not all of the necessary components required to achieve this end are present within the region resulting in the following issues for children and youth:
- The illiteracy rate amongst the Arab population aged 15 years and above was 29% in 2007 compared to 16% globally, 20% in developing countries, 9% in Latin America and 7% in East Asia.
- Coverage of children aged 0-6 in early childhood public childcare centres was an estimated 19% in 2010 compared to 41% globally.
- Child well-being, health status and child mortality indicators for the Arab region are far below developed country levels.
- The primary education enrolment rate was 84% in 2007, having increased from 78% in 1999, however net rates reduced in Jordan, Lebanon and Oman during the same period.
- Approximately 67% of young people are enrolled in secondary education in the region with females lagging males by an estimated 5%.
Source: Arab Knowledge Report 2010/2011
The Arab youth were key actors in the Arab Spring, the wave of popular protests that took place in 2010-2011 across the region, calling for change, political reform, social justice and an end to corruption. Their activism revealed deep frustrations as well as the power of this group and contributed to end the reign of long standing leaders in certain countries throughout the region.
In his address to the Global Colloquium of University Presidents at Columbia University, New York City (April 2, 2012), the United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon stated, ‘When we talk about youth, we have to look beyond demographics to why young people are so powerful. Youth are often the first to stand against injustice. Youth is a time of idealism. Young people are a force for transformation’ (United Nations Secretary General, 2012).
The strategy proposed by the report of starting ‘from the ground up’ by building a new base of knowledge for children and youth and, creating foundations for the renewal of society’s knowledge base clearly acknowledges the force of the Arab youth for transformation and articulates the role they should play in the future of the region. In doing so it sets the region in good stead to convert its young demographic into a demographic dividend.
Additionally, it provides a strong guide for how the region may progress as well as a comprehensive methodology for measuring progress in the area of child well-being.
Hannah Chadwick
Wikichild Consultant
References:
Ross J, 2004, Understanding the Demographic Dividend, http://www.policyproject.com/pubs/generalreport/Demo_Div.pdf
United Nations Secretary General, New York, 2 April 2012 - UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's keynote address to the Global Colloquium of University Presidents at Columbia University [as prepared for delivery] http://www.un.org/sg/statements/index.asp?nid=5971
Children aged 15 years or less constitute 45% of the total population of the Arab region whilst young people aged 15-24 years, account for approximately 21%. In line with relevant literature, these figures indicate the potential for a future demographic dividend for the region which if capitalised upon, will further assist economic growth due to the improved ratio of productive workers to child dependents in the population (Ross J, 2004). Nevertheless, in order for a demographic dividend to materialize, the well-being of today’s children, tomorrow’s adults’ needs to be ensured. To become productive members of society individuals need a good start in life which includes, but is not limited to, effective social, emotional, mental and physical development, as well as access to education.
As documented by the report, not all of the necessary components required to achieve this end are present within the region resulting in the following issues for children and youth:
- The illiteracy rate amongst the Arab population aged 15 years and above was 29% in 2007 compared to 16% globally, 20% in developing countries, 9% in Latin America and 7% in East Asia.
- Coverage of children aged 0-6 in early childhood public childcare centres was an estimated 19% in 2010 compared to 41% globally.
- Child well-being, health status and child mortality indicators for the Arab region are far below developed country levels.
- The primary education enrolment rate was 84% in 2007, having increased from 78% in 1999, however net rates reduced in Jordan, Lebanon and Oman during the same period.
- Approximately 67% of young people are enrolled in secondary education in the region with females lagging males by an estimated 5%.
Source: Arab Knowledge Report 2010/2011
The Arab youth were key actors in the Arab Spring, the wave of popular protests that took place in 2010-2011 across the region, calling for change, political reform, social justice and an end to corruption. Their activism revealed deep frustrations as well as the power of this group and contributed to end the reign of long standing leaders in certain countries throughout the region.
In his address to the Global Colloquium of University Presidents at Columbia University, New York City (April 2, 2012), the United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon stated, ‘When we talk about youth, we have to look beyond demographics to why young people are so powerful. Youth are often the first to stand against injustice. Youth is a time of idealism. Young people are a force for transformation’ (United Nations Secretary General, 2012).
The strategy proposed by the report of starting ‘from the ground up’ by building a new base of knowledge for children and youth and, creating foundations for the renewal of society’s knowledge base clearly acknowledges the force of the Arab youth for transformation and articulates the role they should play in the future of the region. In doing so it sets the region in good stead to convert its young demographic into a demographic dividend.
Additionally, it provides a strong guide for how the region may progress as well as a comprehensive methodology for measuring progress in the area of child well-being.
Hannah Chadwick
Wikichild Consultant
References:
Ross J, 2004, Understanding the Demographic Dividend, http://www.policyproject.com/pubs/generalreport/Demo_Div.pdf
United Nations Secretary General, New York, 2 April 2012 - UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's keynote address to the Global Colloquium of University Presidents at Columbia University [as prepared for delivery] http://www.un.org/sg/statements/index.asp?nid=5971
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