Upstream Activities for the Prevention and Elimination of the WFCL in Central and Eastern Europe

Executive Summary Albania, Bulgaria, Romania and Ukraine are among the countries in Central and Eastern Europe most seriously affected by the Worst Forms of Child Labour (WFCL), including sexual and labour exploitation of children through a trafficking process, street work, illicit activities and agriculture. The prevalence of WFCL in these countries has disastrous consequences on the safety, health and well being of children. Urgent action against the WFCL was and is still required in order to eliminate these practices. ILO-IPEC has been working in the region since 2000 to provide technical and financial assistance to Albania, Bulgaria, Kosovo, Moldova, Romania and Ukraine in the implementation of child labour conventions: ILO Minimum Age Convention (1973) No.138 and ILO Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention (1999) No.182. The proposal will contribute to the implementation of the immediate outcome 120125 (1b.1) under the Sub-Regional Implementation Planning 2008-2009, namely increase constituent and development partner capacity to develop or implement policies or measures focused on reducing child labour. At country level, it specifically aims to contribute through an integrated approach to curb trafficking and other worst forms of child labour, which was identified as a priority by the governments, social partners and ILO in the DWCPs/DWAs in the countries covered by this proposal. Prevention and elimination of child labour is also a priority of the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) Country Programmes. This project proposal is designed to operate over a nine-month period and complements the ongoing and under way interventions implemented by IPEC under the project ‘Trafficking and other Worst Forms of Child Labour in Central and Eastern Europe (Phase II)’ funded by USDOL. Due to the time-constraints set by the donor, the ongoing Action Programmes have to be completed by the end of August 2009. This proposal will allow the extension of the ongoing Action Programmes, ensure that they are finalized in an efficient and effective manner and followed-up to ensure the sustainability of the interventions. The project teams in each country will continue to build on previous work and lessons learned and provide continuous backstopping until the end of the project. Specific activities will revolve around the following two directions: • policy mainstreaming and upscaling activities through the institutionalization of models of intervention previously tested, so that they are implemented on countrywide basis, with resources allocated by Governments (in line with adopted policies), employers, and donors. • Strengthen the knowledge management component of the project through a/continued learning from direct actions in the field piloted under the ongoing projects in sub-region, b/collection and validation of good practices and c/knowledge sharing exercises. ILO-IPEC acts as facilitator bringing together all the partners, providing support and knowledge of child labour issues, while promoting the development and implementation of national policies to eradicate WFCL. The approach includes participation of all national stakeholders in contributing to the strategic direction of the project, as well as engagement of community members at the local level in developing their own solutions to the problem. It reflects ILO’s tripartite structure, the governmental agencies as well as workers’ and employers’ organizations playing key roles in the project. The project works closely with government agencies and structures (particularly Ministries of Labour) to eliminate the WFCL. The project involves and assists social partners in order to create the appropriate conditions for successful business within a child labour-free workplace, protect workers’ rights and interests, including the elimination of child labour. In addition to the tripartite structure, the collaborating NGOs will contribute with their expertise and knowledge

Project symbol

RER/09/51/FRG

Admin unit

IPEC

Start date

08/12/2008

End date

31/12/2010

Total allocation

1024588

Total expenditure

Status

Closed

1024588

Development Partners

Germany, Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development

Country/Countries

Central and Eastern Europe

Outcomes

Child Labour