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Tackling the Worst Forms of Child Labour amongst IDPs, Refugees, and Vulnerable Host Communities in Iraq - Final evaluation

eval_number:

3308

eval_url:

https://webapps.ilo.org/ievaldiscovery/eval/3308

lessons_learned:

themes:

theme:

Tripartism & constituent partnerships

category:

Organizational issues

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comments:

• ILO • UNICEF • UNHCR • World Bank • World Food Programme

challenges:

Multiple key informants pointed out that partnerships were not as effectively leveraged as envisaged in the project design document or the Decent Work Country Programme document. For instance, the Decent Work Country Programme states, “The ILO’s approach in Iraq also reflects the development of a ‘new generation’ of DWCPs, seeking to leverage partnerships to achieve real change and to more closely align to both national and international development goals.” The Decent Work Country Programme identified specific partnerships to achieve reduction of child labour, including UNICEF, UNHCR, World Bank and WFP. UNHCR could have been an ideal partner, particularly since they work with refugee children, Syrian refugees and displaced communities. Several key informants noted that UNHCR was not included at project inception, and only became aware about the project near the end of the implementation phase. However, another key informant stated that UNHCR were engaged from the outset at senior and operational levels, including through the case management working group and protection sub-cluster. UNHCR’s approach to child labour focuses on school drop outs, identification of vulnerable families, and emphasizes civil documentation issues as an entry point with its legal protection mandate. UNHCR also engages in case management services, including for worst forms of child labour. UNHCR pointed out that there would have been opportunities to share lessons with respect to Syrian refugees, information could have been shared and cross referenced. UNHCR has indicated its willingness to be involved in future ILO work on child labour, and has suggested there could be a data sharing agreement to increase impact.

success:

The project did engage with UNICEF and the World Bank. Although these were not formalized partnerships, ILO did approach UNICEF to support capacity building for stakeholders, and it collaborated with the World Bank in Duhok regarding their cash transfer pilot programme aiming at siblings’s access to start up finance, accessing the database of families vulnerable to child labour. UNICEF is a natural partner for the ILO in child labour through its child protection, education and social protection mandates. ILO and UNICEF engaged in joint advocacy efforts, encouraging the government and other stakeholders to establish the child labour monitoring system, coordination mechanisms, participation in steering committees, and engaging in capacity building and awareness raising of child labour stakeholders. For example, ILO and UNICEF engaged in joint advocacy efforts to ensure that vulnerable children have access to formal and non-formal education, and to ensure that the laws protection children from child labour are strengthened and properly implemented. ILO and UNICEF provided age-appropriate skills development programmes for 3,781 young people (10-24 years) including employability skills and educating targeted young people on labour law and human rights standards at work. UNICEF was able to share its significant experience working in the field of child labour in KRI, since UNICEF were present since 1992. UNICEF plays a key role in collecting and developing new methodologies to make child labour visible, as joint custodian with the International Labour Organization (ILO) of the SDG indicators concerning child labour. UNICEF’s work on the worst forms of child labour emphasizes the core role of the social service workforce in preventing, responding to and removing children from child labour. Strengthening the reach, calibre and funding of the social service workforce is crucial to effective intervention by those who are at the frontline against child labour.

context:

The project design document stated that the project would tap into and build on synergies that the ILO has established with other partners, particularly UNICEF in the area of child protection, as well as within the framework of a new partnership to Improve Prospects for Forcibly Displaced Persons and Host Communities (PROSPECTS Programme). ILO’s Decent Work Country Programme for Iraq – Recovery and Reform contains a dedicated outcome on child labour: Outcome 2.2: Fewer vulnerable Iraqi children are exposed to child labour. The Decent Work Country Programme identifies specific partnerships to achieve reduction of child labour: • UNICEF - There is considerable scope for collaboration and synergies between the activities of ILO and UNICEF in Iraq, both with regard to social and child protection. UNICEF is engaged in the provision of child-focused cash transfers to children from vulnerable families as well as in the facilitation of re-entry into school. • UNHCR - UNHCR chairs the Cash Working Group (CWG) for Iraq. The priorities of the CWG include promoting linkages and coordination with government social protection mechanisms, pursuing linkages between cash-based responses in humanitarian programming and national social protection schemes, specifically by establishing a technical dialogue with MOLSA. UNHCR provides a number of multi-purpose cash assistance programmes, targeting Syrian refugees and displaced communities in particular. • WB - The World Bank supports the provision of essential services and social
safety nets to vulnerable communities, specifically through the USD 200m Emergency Social Stabilization and Resilience Project – implemented
by MOLSA – which includes significant Cash4Work and social safety net components, including the development of a unified social protection registry.

description:

Leverage partnerships to achieve real change, greater impact and sustainability, and to more closely align to national and international development goals

administrative_issues:

N/A

url:

https://webapps.ilo.org/ievaldiscovery/lessons/252281

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location:

country:

Iraq

region:

Arab States

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eval_title:

Tackling the Worst Forms of Child Labour amongst IDPs, Refugees, and Vulnerable Host Communities in Iraq - Final evaluation