Advancing children’s rights and gender equality on a continental scale is an ambitious goal, requiring the coordination of diverse stakeholders, sustained advocacy, and adaptive strategies. Through our work with evaluating initiatives like the Pan African State Accountability Project (PASAP) and supporting other child rights movements and networks, we have gathered key insights into what it takes to create effective, impactful coalitions for systemic change.
Africa has made significant progress in advancing children’s rights and gender equality through frameworks like the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACRWC) and the Maputo Protocol. However, a persistent gap between policy commitments and implementation has hindered the realization of these rights, especially for vulnerable children and girls.
Projects, such as The Pan African State Accountability Project (PASAP) aimed to address this challenge by empowering civil society organizations (CSOs) to hold governments accountable. Coordinated by Plan International’s African Union Liaison Office (AULO), PASAP brought together key child rights networks and actors working across Africa, such as to strengthen advocacy for children’s rights across the continent. PASAP focused on bridging the gap between policy and practice by:
Supporting CSOs to engage with the African Union (AU) and regional economic communities (RECs).
Promoting collaboration among advocacy networks.
Building institutional and technical capacities for sustained action.
Embedding knowledge and learning into advocacy efforts.
These efforts were anchored in multi-stakeholder collaboration, with partnerships spanning regional and sub-regional networks, human rights institutions, and grassroots organizations. [1]
Building Cross-Continental Movements for Children’s Rights: Key General Learnings from Evaluation
An evaluation conducted by ARSIC Social Impact Consulting of project such as PASAP, along with our extensive work with other child rights actors and movements, provided important insights into the lessons and learning in building regional or global child rights network. Key takeaways include:
1. Youth and Child Leadership and Participation Is Transformative, Not Optional
Children and young people bring unique perspectives and energy to advocacy. Successful movements don’t just engage youth and children as participants; they empower them as decision-makers and advocates. For example, involving youth in drafting shadow reports and participating in high-level forums ensures that their voices shape policies directly impacting them.
Takeaway: Foster meaningful child and youth participation by equipping them with the tools and platforms to lead, while ensuring their engagement results in tangible outcomes.
2. Unified Strategies Are Critical for Cohesion
Continental movements operate in diverse political and cultural landscapes, which can lead to fragmented efforts. A shared vision, articulated through a clear theory of change, helps align activities and ensures cohesive advocacy.
Takeaway: Develop and regularly revisit a unified strategy, supported by a solid theory of change that allows for regional adaptation while maintaining alignment with broader goals.
3. Integrating Gender for Transformative Advocacy
Advocating for children’s rights cannot be separated from addressing gender inequality. Successful movements recognize the interconnected nature of these issues and ensure that gender considerations are not only mainstreamed but fully integrated to be transformative.
Takeaway: Move beyond gender-sensitive or gender-responsive approaches to create gender-transformative advocacy. This involves addressing systemic barriers, shifting norms, and ensuring girls and boys equally benefit from advocacy outcomes while tackling root causes of inequality.
4. Sustainability Demands Early Investment
Advocacy movements often face challenges in sustaining momentum beyond initial funding cycles. Strengthening the institutional and financial capacities of partner organizations ensures they can continue their work independently.
Takeaway: Prioritize sustainability by integrating capacity-building, financial planning, and governance strengthening into the early stages of movements.
5. Context Matters, Always
Diverse regions require tailored advocacy strategies. What resonates in one country or sub-region may not work in another. Successful movements adapt to these dynamics while maintaining alignment with overarching goals.
Takeaway: Balance a unified approach with localized strategies that reflect the unique political, social, and cultural realities of each region.
6. Knowledge Sharing Fuels Progress
Advocacy movements generate valuable insights, from policy briefs to research reports. However, these resources often remain underutilized without effective dissemination and feedback mechanisms.
Takeaway: Invest in systems for knowledge sharing, ensuring that lessons learned inform future strategies and reach all relevant stakeholders.
7. Accountability Strengthens Credibility
Movements gain legitimacy when they hold themselves to the same standards of accountability they demand from others. Regular monitoring, evaluation, and transparent reporting not only improve effectiveness but also build trust among stakeholders, allowing movements to document their achievements.
Takeaway: Embed accountability mechanisms within advocacy initiatives, fostering a culture of transparency and continuous improvement.
8. Collaboration Across Stakeholders Amplifies Impact
Movements that connect civil society organizations (CSOs), regional mechanisms, and grassroots networks create a multiplier effect. Partnerships with human rights institutions, regional networks, and advocacy platforms enhance collective expertise and influence.
Takeaway: Build robust partnerships that leverage the strengths of diverse actors, from grassroots organizations to regional advocacy networks and academic institutions.
The Role of Evaluation
The evaluation process led by ARSIC Social Impact Consulting, combined Outcome Harvesting and evaluation based on OCED evaluation criteria, not only assessed PASAP’s achievements and challenges but also provided a foundation for continuous improvement in future initiatives. Evaluations like this serve multiple purposes:
· Promoting adaptive learning for stakeholders.
· Strengthening accountability and transparency.
· Enhancing sustainability through evidence-based recommendations.
· Encouraging collaboration by sharing insights across networks.
Looking Ahead
While PASAP has concluded, its outcomes continue to inform efforts to advance children’s rights and gender equality. The lessons learned underscore the importance of youth participation, strategic alignment, and collaborative advocacy in achieving systemic change.
At ARSIC Social Impact Consulting, these insights are being integrated into initiatives such as our 2025 Child Rights Course Series starting in early February 2025, which aims to support professionals and advocates in their efforts to advance children’s rights globally.
This neutral version emphasizes PASAP’s outcomes and lessons learned without a heavily promotional or reflective tone.
[1] African Child Policy Forum (ACPF); Centre for Human Rights of the University of Pretoria (CHR/UoP); Institute for Human Rights and Development in Africa (IHRDA); Regional networks like the Child Rights Network for Southern Africa (CRNSA), Eastern Africa Child Rights Network (EACRN), and the West African Civil Society Forum (WACSOF) the Network of African National Human Rights Institutions and the African Movement of Working Children and Youth (AMWCY)
ARSIC Impact Chronicles is our newly launched blog, dedicated to sharing thought-provoking insights, inspiring stories, and updates from our work. Through this platform, we aim to foster meaningful dialogue and highlight innovative solutions that advance human rights, equality, and social impact.
At ARSIC Social Impact Consulting, we specialize in consulting, training, and innovation. With over 15 years of global experience, we partner with organizations like UNICEF, UN Women, and Plan International to deliver impactful solutions across 15+ countries. Our work is driven by a commitment to shaping a better future and addressing critical challenges affecting children, women, and vulnerable communities.
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