Policy responses
• Continue to ensure access to education / schooling, even when formal educational institutions are closed, respecting time and ages (particularly in rural areas)
• In the targeting of vulnerable families for social protection measures, factor in the number of children of school compulsory age and give priority to those families who might resort to child labour as a coping mechanism
• In other interventions facilitating access to resources, ensure that messages about the importance of keeping children in school or not involving them in strenuous or hazardous farming tasks are consistently disseminated
• In the targeting of vulnerable families for social protection measures, factor in the number of children of school compulsory age and give priority to those families who might resort to child labour as a coping mechanism
• In other interventions facilitating access to resources, ensure that messages about the importance of keeping children in school or not involving them in strenuous or hazardous farming tasks are consistently disseminated
Avoid messages that may reinforce stereotypes and discrimination against girls. Collect sex- and age-differentiated data to assess the different situation of boys and girls and monitor gender impacts.
Links and references
http://www.fao.org/3/I7403EN/i7403en.pdf - https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/covid-19-children-heightened-risk-abuse-neglect-exploitation-and-violence-amidst
Pros Reduce the risk to anchor non sustainable practices in agricultural sectors and value chains.
Reduce the risk of a “lost generation”, a generation of children with hampered access to education and full development.
Reduce the risk to have long-term consequences of a skills gap in agriculture and agri-food sector.
Reduce the risk of vicious poverty cycle with failed human capital development.
Cons Require a good monitoring system and liaison with education stakeholders, local communities to identify families vulnerable to child labour.
Minimum conditions Minimum baseline in terms of pre-existing child labour prevalence in the agricultural sector before the crisis.
Increase cash transfer duration and amount to address gendered vulnerabilities among children, such as reduced school enrolment due to increased domestic work burden or increased risk of early marriage.
