Child participation in evaluating social protection projects: Do global development actors walk the talk?

Abstract

This article assesses the compliance of key international development actors with children’s right to participation in evaluating social protection programmes they support in Africa. As children in sub-Saharan Africa assume an increasingly large share of global poverty, their right to be heard in these programmes is critical. The article elaborates on the legal requirements for the implementation of Article 12 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and demonstrates the practical relevance of children’s participation. The article concludes that as children are left out of the design and planning phase of social protection programmes, their role in monitoring and evaluation (M&E) can only be marginal.