Achievements: December 2009

Results from independent evaluators assessing the ICI’s programmes in Ghana are in and the findings validate ICI’s community-led model and its vision for long-term, sustainable change for cocoa growing communities. Key findings of the evaluation:

• Most children no longer spray cocoa farms, carry heavy loads, remove parasitic plants or weed large areas of land
• Increased enrolment and attendance rates in primary school and fewer children drop out
• The difference between children helping on the family farm and the worst forms of child labour is widely understood and practices have been modified to reflect this
• Validates ICI’s model:  communities lead and drive change
• Poverty is the overarching issue: marry programmes with economic development 
• Partnerships, partnerships, partnerships:  national and local level working together

Regarding the involvement of children in hazardous activities, as an illustration, we can feature our implementing partner Glori. Glori implements the ICI YDK programme in 15 communities in Ghana. Out of these 15 communities, they have conducted in-depth evaluation of the impact of the programme in 9 communities. Their results confirm the key findings of the evaluation: the number of children using machete has been reduced by almost  94 %, the number of children involved directly or indirectly (fetching water and being present while spraying)  in spraying activities (pesticides and fertilizers) by 97 % , and the number of children carrying heavy loads by almost 88% .

To illustrate the key findings of the evaluation regarding the enrolment rate, our implementing partners, Save Life Foundation (SLF), has collected the enrolment data for the 31 communities where they do implement the ICI YDK programme. The enrolment rate in their communities has increased by 7% between the school year 2008/2009 and the school year 2009/2010.

Strategic Component: reinforce and replicate models for preventing and eliminating WFCL in cocoa communities - Overall Objective (2008-10): ICI interventions demonstrate significant impact and are being replicated by others

Key Activities

• ICI community based programme active in 157 communities in three regions, total population 226,000, with children reported as 38.6 of the total population. Average community size 1,439.
• At the end of December 2009, more than 4,368 community meetings have been held to sensitise the community and plan for change.
• Coordination meetings held with local authorities to link community action with responsible departments at district level.

Key Programme Outputs

• After sensitization, in 84% of communities, children have been reported using machete, in 62%, children have been reported  being present during spraying activities, in 84%, children have been reported carrying heavy loads.
• 229,199 community members sensitised on child labour.
• 148 Community action plans adopted and being implemented.
• 34 micro projects completed. Ratio of ICI to local funding is 0.4 to 0.6.
• 353 local initiatives completed or underway to address education provision, sanitation, water and electrification.
• Bye laws have been put in place in 30 communities to restrict the activities of children.
• Local authorities provided construction materials for schools in 67 communities, new teachers in 58 communities, health service provision in 7, electrification in 4 and water/sanitation in 9. A total of 205 initiatives from local authorities have been implemented to support CAP implementation.  

Key Programme Outcomes 

• Attitudinal change towards children observed
• Reported increased parental supervision of children.
• Reported reduced presence of children during spraying.
• Reported reduced prevalence of children carrying heavy loads and undertaking hazardous tasks.
• Reported changes in on-farm practices for children and provision of protective clothing.
• Increased education attendance and achievement.
• Bye laws affect behaviour such as late night video viewing.

Strategic Component: Support Governments, National institutions and the local supply chain in the design and implementation of relevant policies and programmes and the implementation of legal instruments - Overall objective (2008-10): Key actors at national level are actively supporting change

Key Activities

• 770 key people in the public, civil society and private sector intensively trained in WFCL in 36 training events.
• Including 348 Cocoa Board and LBC staff (Directors, regional heads and front line staff), 52 Ghana police service and Dept of Social Welfare, 25 persons from the Judiciary, 64 media personnel, 117 NGO partner staff & 17 trainers.
• In 9 cocoa growing districts key district staff have been trained and engaged in ICI YDK programme.
• Funding support and technical input provided to the development of the national action plan (In partnership with ILO IPEC).
• Funding and technical input provided to development of the list of Hazardous practices (in partnership with ILO IPEC and Danish Embassy).

Key Programme Outputs

• Active engagement by cocoa board leadership in efforts to combat WFCL.
• Cocoa board front line staffs regularly conduct sensitisations during farmers’ meetings (typically reaching 150 to 200 farmers per session).
• Cocoa Board established child labour desk.
• Cocoa Board & ICI supported radio programme on 13 local stations over 9 weeks reached 12 districts (combined audience 16 million) with relevant messages and informed Q&A sessions. A second phase of Raio Programme has been implemented, with the support of Cadbury, and is currently being evaluated.
• Effective local NGO partner engagement at community level.
• LBC staffs engage effectively with communities in ICI community programme.
• Ghana police and social welfare support community actions and sensitisation.
• National action plan in place and coordination mechanism started.
• List of Hazardous practices developed and published.

Key Programme Outcomes

• Widespread awareness of the issue of child labour in cocoa.
• An informed understanding of WFCL among a significant number of key public sector people engaged in the cocoa sector who promote change.
• Engagement by local authorities in community planning and support for projects.
• Improved (better informed, less polemic) media coverage of WFCL and trafficking.
• Police more effective in identifying and interceding with suspected traffickers. Over 170 cases intercepted. Direct assistance provided to rescue 5 additional cases.
• Clear message from Cocoa Board in the sector.
• Clear leadership position from MMYE and National plan as basis of coordination.
• Local NGO partners act as district level champions against child labour.

Strategic Component: Support the availability of relevant quality education and training for children in cocoa communities – Overall objective (2008-10): Education models in ICI intervention areas demonstrate quality education for all

Key Activities

• Sensitisation of communities on education.
• Mobilisation of parents to engage with school management.
• Advocacy with local education service at district/prefecture level.
• Support for mobilization of local funds.

Key Programme Outputs

• All 148 received CAPs with an education component adopted and being implemented.
• 26 micro-projects related to education provision sponsored by ICI.
• 173 initiatives from local authorities to support CAP implementation relate to education.
• 174 community initiatives to support CAP implementation relate to education provision.

Key Programme Outcomes

• 92 communities have new or rehabilitated schools, representing 235 classrooms (benefiting directly to 11,750 pupils / average of 50 pupils / classroom).
• New teachers have been posted in 58 communities.
• A total of 145 new teachers have been posted.

Strategic Component: Support the provision of appropriate social protection services for victims of trafficking and forced labour – Overall objective (2008-10): Replicable effective models are established to identify, rescue and rehabilitate victims in priority areas

Key Activities

• Financial support provided for the Madina centre to receive trafficked children.
• Training and awareness raising of 22  police and 29 social service in ICI programme districts.
• Advocacy with Ministry of Manpower Youth & Employment to create systematic response.
• Support for ad-hoc response to suspected cases.
• Collaboration with local authorities to prosecute traffickers.

Key Programme Outputs

• Police and social welfare agents more technically competent and confident.
• Awareness of trafficking in cocoa sector increased as a feature of the sector.
• Madina centre available to receive cases (During 2007).
• Increased experience in certain districts of addressing trafficked cases.
• Cases of trafficked children reported by our implementing partners: 63.
• Since February 2009, nine (9) cases of suspected trafficking have been identified. After investigation by the Department of Social Welfare, two cases have been confirmed, and ICI has supported these two children. One of the children was found in Nsuaem in Wassa Amenfi East District by RECA. The other case was found in Kordjuor in Sefwi Akontombra District by PROMAG. The seven unconfirmed cases were found by CODESULT (3), GLORI (2), RECA (1) and PROMAG (1).

Key Programme Outcomes

• Objective 4.2 in national Action plan set framework for Government action.
• Trafficking act passed by Ghana parliament.
• MMYE actively following up reports of trafficked cases.