The DIGICHILD index is a data-driven digital tool that uses georeferenced data to estimate child labour risk in agrifood systems. Piloted under the FAO ELEVATE Programme 2024–2025, it responds to human rights due diligence requirements by helping public and private actors identify, prevent, and mitigate child labour risks across agrifood supply chains.
The child labour risk estimation index is generated using geographic information systems (GIS) to map agricultural and crop-growing communities most at risk. The index integrates selected, standardized child labour risk indicators – such as poverty, food insecurity, school proximity, climate vulnerability, demography and conflict – drawing on georeferenced and survey data. It also incorporates crop-specific geospatial information (e.g. coffee, sugarcane, livestock and cocoa).
The tool addresses limitations of traditional child labour monitoring and remediation systems, which rely solely on direct observation and are costly, sporadic, and provide limited territorial coverage and forecasting capacity. DIGICHILD complements these systems by providing cost-effective, frequently updated, granular (1 km²) data with forecasting potential.
These risk estimates support governments in designing tailored and timely policies to prevent child labour in agrifood systems, enabling a shift from remediation to early action. The index also helps companies improve traceability and due diligence compliance, while supporting development actors and financial institutions in strengthening programme accountability and safeguards.
Piloted in Uganda and Honduras in 2024–2025, the DIGICHILD index is hosted on FAO's Hand-in-Hand Agro-informatics Platform and, upon request, on national governments' platforms. Developed through a participatory process, the initiative ensures national ownership, relevance and alignment with country priorities. Following adaptation, government-led mechanisms are established to ensure use, regular updates and long-term sustainability.
DIGICHILD aims to scale across countries, accelerating national and global action to end child labour.
Video tutorial
Child labour
DIGICHILD – How to navigate FAO's GIS-based child labour risk estimation index
12/01/2026
This demo video explains how to navigate DIGICHILD, FAO's GIS-based child labour risk estimation index.
Related publications
Digitalization and child labour in agriculture - Exploring blockchain and Geographic Information Systems to monitor and prevent child labour in Ghana’s cocoa sector. Design paper
12/06/2023
This paper assesses the potential role of blockchain technology and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in collecting and sharing data on cocoa-growing areas in Ghana, and how this could contribute to monitoring and ultimately preventing child labour in those areas.
Contact
Adriano Bolchini,
FAO Child Labour Specialist