3 ORGS · 18 ACTIVITIES ← all strategies ·
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Child and Youth Agency

By positioning children and youth as active agents in advocacy, governance, and community development, we produce sustainable child rights outcomes and systemic change, because meaningful participation builds self-belief, local ownership, and contextually relevant solutions that endure beyond external interventions. This strategy centers on transforming children and youth from beneficiaries into decision-makers, leveraging structured participation, rights-based frameworks, and regional or local networks to shift power dynamics. It distinguishes itself from top-down or service-delivery models by prioritizing agency, voice, and systemic accountability, ensuring that change is driven by those most affected. While other strategies may focus on service provision or capacity building of adults, this approach invests directly in young people’s leadership as a catalyst for broader social transformation.

3
orgs running it
18
activities of those orgs
9
activity groups touched
who runs it

organizations running this strategy · 3

what it looks like in practice

activities of orgs running this strategy

A sample of programmatic activities from the orgs above. These are what the strategy looks like on the ground.

  • Advocacy through the African CSO Forum CHILD TO CHILD NETWORK OF EASTERN AND SOUTHERN AFRICA
    advocacy
    Operates the African Civil Society Forum (CSO Forum), which unites civil society organizations from five African regions to advocate for children's rights. The forum meets at least twice a year before ACERWC sessions to prepare submissions and deliver statements on key child rights issues.
  • Capacity building for civil society partners CHILD TO CHILD NETWORK OF EASTERN AND SOUTHERN AFRICA
    capacity building
    Conducts regular capacity-building workshops and reflection events for national child rights coalitions, including multi-day annual meetings focused on learning, advocacy, and organizational strengthening. These include the Annual Partners’ Reflection and Learning Event and the Annual General and Partner Review Meeting.
  • Children's participation in advocacy forums CHILD TO CHILD NETWORK OF EASTERN AND SOUTHERN AFRICA
    direct service
    Holds dedicated children's sessions preceding the African Civil Society Forum (CSO Forum), enabling dialogue among children from various regions. A child representative presents the resulting outcome statement at both the CSO Forum and sessions of the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC).
  • Coordination of national child rights coalitions CHILD TO CHILD NETWORK OF EASTERN AND SOUTHERN AFRICA
    capacity building
    Links with national child-focused civil society organizations through national coalitions in 7 Eastern African countries and strengthens their capacity to advocate for children's rights. The organization was established in March 2014 to coordinate civil society efforts and improve child rights governance in the region.
  • Development of child-friendly rights materials CHILD TO CHILD NETWORK OF EASTERN AND SOUTHERN AFRICA
    capacity building
    Created a child-friendly version of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child to enhance children's understanding of their rights and responsibilities, supporting child participation and rights-based education.
  • Implementation of child rights programs CHILD TO CHILD NETWORK OF EASTERN AND SOUTHERN AFRICA
    direct service
    Implements programs aimed at realizing children's rights in line with the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACRWC) and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), including direct consultations with children to assess rights implementation.
  • Production of advocacy and research statements CHILD TO CHILD NETWORK OF EASTERN AND SOUTHERN AFRICA
    research
    Produces key policy and research outputs including the CSO Children’s Outcome Statement and the Outcome Statement of the 24th Ordinary Session of the CSO Forum, based on desk reviews, informant interviews, and stakeholder consultations.
  • Secretariat operations and staffing CHILD TO CHILD NETWORK OF EASTERN AND SOUTHERN AFRICA
    capacity building
    Employs a dedicated Secretariat team including an Executive Director, Finance Manager, Finance and Admin Assistant, and Programme Officer to manage regional coordination, finance, and programming.
  • Social media advocacy campaigns CHILD TO CHILD NETWORK OF EASTERN AND SOUTHERN AFRICA
    advocacy
    Conducts social media campaigns in the lead-up to continental child rights celebrations to amplify advocacy messages and raise public awareness on children's rights issues in Africa.
  • Cash assistance programs for vulnerable families SAVE THE CHILDREN FINLAND - DISSOLVED
    direct service
    Provides cash assistance to families in crisis-affected areas, including South Sudan and other contexts, enabling them to purchase food, medicine, school-related supplies, and other essentials during emergencies or economic hardship.
  • Climate and disaster preparedness initiatives SAVE THE CHILDREN FINLAND - DISSOLVED
    direct service
    Conducts educational sessions in schools and supports community-level disaster preparedness, including climate emergency readiness and emergency relief efforts with supplies and on-the-ground response.
  • Eco-friendly agricultural training for food security SAVE THE CHILDREN FINLAND - DISSOLVED
    capacity building
    Delivers training in sustainable farming practices to improve crop nutrition and enhance food security for vulnerable families.
  • Education programs for refugee and out-of-school children SAVE THE CHILDREN FINLAND - DISSOLVED
    direct service
    Operates education centers in Beirut, Lebanon and Alternative Basic Education centres in Dadaab refugee camp, providing literacy, child rights education, and foundational learning to refugee and out-of-school children, contributing to increased school attendance and confidence.
  • Installation of water access infrastructure in Indonesia SAVE THE CHILDREN FINLAND - DISSOLVED
    direct service
    Supported youth-led initiatives and installed solar-powered water systems in West and East Sumba, Indonesia, including boreholes, taps, and irrigation systems, to provide safe drinking water and improve community resilience.
  • Engagement of caregivers in early childhood programs NYOTA COMMUNITY NETWORK FOR DEVELOPMENT
    capacity building
    Actively involves over 350 caregivers in programs that promote high-quality early childhood care and development.
  • Promotion of early childhood care and development NYOTA COMMUNITY NETWORK FOR DEVELOPMENT
    direct service
    Advances high-quality early childhood care and development through targeted programming and stakeholder engagement.
  • Support for learners with special needs NYOTA COMMUNITY NETWORK FOR DEVELOPMENT
    direct service
    Provides direct support services to over 150 learners with special needs, focusing on inclusive early childhood development.
  • Training legal professionals and stakeholders on child rights advocacy NYOTA COMMUNITY NETWORK FOR DEVELOPMENT
    capacity building
    Conducts training programs for legal professionals and stakeholders to strengthen advocacy for young children's rights. Over 300 individuals have been trained in child rights as part of this effort.