Household economic security for the family
A child's vulnerability to trafficking and exploitation may be dependent on a variety of factors. For a certain number of children their vulnerability may be increased by the fact that some households may be unable to financially support and protect their children. There is therefore, in some contexts, a need to bring together economic development goals and child protection goals if we hope to bring about sustainable change for children.
Building economic security
Economic strengthening in pursuit of child protection outcomes may involve either improving the economic security of the children and youth themselves or by building the economic security of their caregivers and wider community.
Economic security involves:
- providing assets - such as food or goods
- protecting assets - such as offering saving opportunities and insurance
- promoting assets by facilitating access to income generation such as offering credit to start up businesses or supporting technical training.
Understanding the context
Prior to developing economic security programmes for families and communities it is important to have a full understanding of the dynamics between the children and families as well as an understanding of the local market realities. All programmes must be market-driven and appropriate to the capacity, context and culture of the individuals.
Key texts:
- What cash transfer programming can do to protect children from violence, abuse and exploitation: Review and recommendations: Save the Children, Women's Refugee Commission, the Cash Learning Partnership and Child Protection in Crisis Network, 2012
- Re/integration of trafficked persons: supporting economic empowerment: Rebecca Surtees for NEXUS Institute, 2012 [summary of report]
Key website:
The Small Enterprise Education and Promotion (SEEP) Network
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