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Child Poverty

Improving child well-being outcomes through a child-sensitive social protection approach

Levels of poverty remain high across Zambia, with over half of the population living in poverty. In rural communities, this rises to almost 77%. Additionally, more than half of the population is under the age of 18.

Our child poverty work will:

  • Support the government to improve accountability and transparency mechanisms of the social protection programme.
  • Promote inclusive, child and gender-sensitive social protection programmes.
  • Promote inclusive, child and gender-sensitive linkages between the social cash transfer programme and basic health, nutrition, education and child protection services ('Cash Plus' Approach).
  • Promote inclusive, child and gender-sensitive linkages to the private sector through a child rights business approach.
Children in school

Our Focus

We will focus on children under the age of five that are receiving social protection in rural areas of Copperbelt, Western and Luapula provinces. Our research will focus on the mining district of Lufwanyama on the Copperbelt province where, despite high levels of mining activities, poverty remains stubbornly high.

Girls in school

Our Approach

Be the voice:

  • Advocate for a child and gender-sensitive social protection system, which includes strong accountability and transparency mechanisms.
  • Work with government, communities, and children to create demand for social accountability and quality service delivery.

Innovation:

  • Pilot evidence-based approaches, including Resourcing for Better Nutrition and Household Economy Analysis.
  • Conduct research on the added value of a 'cash plus' approach for children and develop packages that can be adopted and scaled by the government.
  • Document our learning and share this with the cooperating partners and other stakeholders.

Achieve results at scale:

  • Upscale results by adding behavioural change communication to the social cash transfer programme and linking it to improved health, nutrition, water and social services, such as under-five immunisations, growth promotion and nutrition, school attendance, and child protection services.
  • Support the government to improve social protection accountability and transparency mechanisms.

Build partnerships:

  • Facilitate the formation of a civil society platform on child sensitive social protection by exploring synergies and partnering with like-minded networks.
  • Engage the private sector and promote linkages with the large youth population through a child rights business approach.
Children in school

Thematic Leadership

Save the Children has collaborated with the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services to introduce, replicate and pioneer high impact low cost interventions in Zambia, such as Resourcing Families for Better Nutrition ('Cash Plus' for nutrition), Parenting Without Violence, Household Economy Analysis and Nourishing the Youngest. These evidence-based approaches have been delivered through national, district-wide and community based programmes. Our programming is implemented in line with the government plans and policies to ensure continuity and ownership by duty bearers.

Save the children staff in Zambia